Hey guys! I'm so greatful for all the support I have been getting from all of you! I'm sorry this chapter took a while to upload but besides just recently moving, a lot of stuff has happened since.
Now that the semester has started again, I might have some trouble writing, but I'll try my hardest to upload at least once a month.
Now, on to the next chapter…
…
The next couple of days were a blur, the Riveras made shoes non-stop since there was a play coming up and they had over 20 orders of different custom-made shoes. Miguel had been visiting his death counselor, and it seemed to help since he stopped crying in his sleep, which gave the family some relief. They knew that the problems hadn't started yet, but at least he didn't seem to be repressing anything. Coco returned to her former self and seemed to be taking the boy's death better than she had taken Victoria's. Finally, when the week was over, they found themselves sitting in the living room sharing some quality time with each other by interchanging stories.
"How did you and Mamá Imelda meet?" Miguel turned to Héctor with curious eyes.
"Well…" Héctor turned to look at his wife, who pressed her lips together trying to suppress a smile, "I went to the market to play and earn some extra money to buy my own guitar" he looked at the ceiling with dreamy eyes, "it was such a beautiful day, the sun was shining and I was wearing the charro suit that the priest had gotten me for my birthday, and then I bought a churro but it was salty for some reason, and then I said hello to Doña Maria who told me I looked ridiculous, but we all knew she was crazy about me, and then…" Imelda grabbed Héctor shoulder, making him stop mid-sentence.
"Long story short, I noticed this guy looking at me weird when I was grocery shopping" Imelda patted his lap playfully, "and next thing I knew I was married and pregnant"
"I was getting to the good stuff!" Héctor made a sad face expecting to get a reaction from Imelda, but she quickly dismissed it.
"You always remember the details of unimportant stuff" she stated and gave him a look.
"Por supuesto!" he smiled, "am I just supposed to forget the day I met the love of my life AND that bird that showed me his affection by almost popping on me?" he asked expecting for the family to laugh, but the comment only made the situation awkward, everyone glaring at him with pity.
"Everyone said I could do better" Imelda clenched her teeth together and looked away from him.
"But you didn't listen and now that you can't back out look how happy we are!" Héctor exclaimed and gave his wife a big hug, earning a few chuckles from the family and an eye roll from her.
"Still happily married" she said with a forced tone.
"So, you stay married even after death?" Miguel asked.
"What do you mean?" Héctor responded frowning in confusion without letting go of Imelda.
"I thought when you got married in the Land of the Living that was only until death do you apart" the boy explained, "with that logic, that would mean that the marriage ended after Papá Héctor died"
Héctor's jaw dropped open and he quickly let go of Imelda, whose eyes pooped open as the realization dawned on them like a slap. The thought hadn't crossed Imelda's mind at all, and now that it was out in the open it seemed foolish that she had missed it. And the fact that the boy would have known instead of her? Oh, what a fool she had been! Estupida! Estupida! Estupida! Now what? Was she really not married? What did it make Héctor? Her boyfriend? At her age? Even when Héctor wasn't around, she still considered herself a married woman. And now that he was back she had been so happy, so much so that she decided to push all formalities aside, celebrating that he was finally home.
"Mamá, did you really not know?" Coco asked squinting her eyes in disbelief.
"YOU KNEW AND DIDN'T TELL ME?!" she answered jerking away from Héctor as if he were dangerous.
"We thought you wanted to try that new modern thing where you live together before marriage" Coco answered with a shy smile.
"DIOS MIO!" Imelda exclaimed at the realization of what her daughter said. The anger in her voice was freighting, this being the first time that she had been so utterly humiliated. Her family had known what they were doing all along, and the fact that it was out of wedlock made it much, MUCH worse. Of course, they had been intimate, in both of their eyes they were still married and could be as adventurous as they pleased. Oh god they had been VERY adventurous.
"And you still shared your bed with him" Felipe stated loudly enough to be heard but looked at the ceiling avoiding his sister's death stare.
"DID YOU KNOW?" she turned to look at Héctor who violently shook his head.
"I swear the idea didn't even cross my mind" he raised his two hands in innocence.
"Well, technically you can still do better" Miguel added while looking at his great-great-grandmother with a bright smile to try and lighten the mood. But he only got mixed glares from everyone in the room, "and that is my cue to leave" he made a quick exit but hid behind the wall to keep listening to the conversation.
"Mija, why didn't you tell me?" Héctor asked with a low voice.
"We didn't want to ruin what you two had" Coco responded.
"So, you two aren't married either?" Imelda asked trying to control her voice.
"No, we are married" Julio answered and reached for his wife's hand, who gladly surrendered it.
"How did you do it?" Héctor asked locking his eyes on Coco to try and ignore the awkward stares the family was giving him.
"Simple, we just went to City Hall and got a marriage license" Coco explained, "it only took 10 minutes"
"So that is all we would have to do?" Imelda asked feeling relieved.
"Technically yeah" Julio looked at her mother-in-law with compassion, "but then there is the other option of having the whole wedding experience otra vez"
"Interesting" Imelda sighed closing her eyes, she swallowed her pride and turned to look at Héctor, "tomorrow we'll go there and get married"
"A marriage proposal without a ring?" Héctor looked at Imelda with puppy eyes, "I'm an old-fashioned guy and would like a ring on my…".
"Don't push it" Imelda said firmly, making him quiet. A small giggle was heard from the hallway, "MIGUEL GO TO YOUR ROOM RIGHT AWAY!"
…
Miguel gave Héctor a shy smile as he got settled in the boy's room, "so it'll be like a fun sleep over, Papá Héctor?" he asked and played a few soft cords on his guitar.
Héctor squinted his eyes at the boy, "Imelda kicked me out of our room because of you"
"Me? What did I do?" the boy asked innocently.
"If you hadn't said anything I'd be in my room with my beautiful wife" Héctor answered as he softened his pillow.
"She's technically not your wife but alright", Miguel mumbled earning a look from Héctor, "anyways, isn´t this technically your bachelor party?"
"I've been a bachelor for almost a century, mijo" Héctor sat on his mattress, "and all I wanted was to be married to Imelda and get mi familia back"
"Are you going to wear a tux and everything?" the boy asked and softly began to play the chords of La Llorona.
"I'll see, but for now I want to get her a wedding ring as soon as possible" Héctor smiled, "she's too beautiful, so the world needs to know she's taken"
"Why don't we stay up and write her a song?" Miguel proposed, holding the guitar tightly.
"Buena idea, mijo!" Héctor smiled and climbed up to the boy's bed, scrambling for ideas.
"I must admit I got nothing" Miguel smiled shyly and offered the guitar to his great-great-grandfather, who returned the smile and gently took the guitar, "I wonder if marriages are binding only until death so that afterwards the person can start over when they get here"
"Maybe" Héctor answered and began to play a few soft chords, "I'm still not one of those people, I have always been in love with Imelda"
"What does that feel like?" the boy asked as he fell over on the bed, blankly staring at the ceiling, "To love someone for so long?".
Héctor stopped playing and sighed in thought, "I guess it's odd, when we first married it was passionate and she was perfect to me" he smiled, "it wasn't until we started living together that I noticed her flaws, but I always knew that she was a good woman so I loved her regardless", he began playing soft chords again, "when we found out she pregnant, it was when it became real how much she really loved me"
"What do you mean?" the boy asked rolling over to look at the man.
"Because she was carrying my child" Héctor answered with a soft voice, "pregnancy is though, I first-hand know because I never left her side, and I saw what it did to her" he continued playing the guitar softly, "I really can't explain it, but I can tell you that when a woman carries your child it is the ultimate love sign"
"It must be" Miguel responded with a sad tone and rolled over to once again look at the ceiling.
Héctor noticed his great-great-grandson's change in mood and decided to take advantage of the opportunity to finally discuss the elephant in the room, "Mijo" he began, "I know we haven't really gotten a chance to talk about it"
"Talk about what?"
"What happened that night" Héctor put the guitar aside and sat criss cross in front of the boy.
"What do you want to know?" Miguel asked without taking his eyes off the ceiling.
"I mostly want to know how you're feeling" Héctor replied and stretched his hand out to touch the boy but changed his mind and quickly put it away.
"I try not to think about it" Miguel closed his eyes, "I mostly deal with it when I see my death counselor, she has been really helpful through it all" he opened his eyes slowly, "but what I can tell you is that it still feels surreal, like it can't be happening to me"
Héctor remined quiet, knowing that the boy needed time to fully express what he was feeling.
"It's really a mix of thought and emotions, sort of like they take turns to come and haunt me" the boy focused on the point in the ceiling, "it feels like I can't deal with any of them because they don´t stay long enough"
"What kind of thoughts?"
"I miss my family over in the Land of the living, I know that I will see them again but it doesn't stop me from feeling homesick" Miguel felt the tears building up in his neck and he desperately tried to swallow them, "I always thought that 10 years from now I'd be married and playing music for the world, but now I know that even if I get to play, I won't be able to get married, and if I do we won't get to grow old together and have kids like Mamá Coco and Papá Julio" the boy kept trying to swallow the feeling but tears began to leak, "I guess I'm just sad and disappointed over the things that I won't get to do" there was a brief silence, "and then come the much darker thoughts"
Héctor nodded and took a deep breath, trying to control the sudden wave of anger that shook his body. He knew that the boy had been through something awful that no one should ever have to experience, an experience that never happened to his family, because they were good people who didn't deserve any of that.
"I think about him" Miguel said with a cold tone filled with anger, "I think about what he did and the things that I'd like to do him in return"
"Do you want to talk about that?" Héctor asked cautiously knowing that the topic was too sensitive.
"I'd rather not" the boy finally turned around to meet his great-great-grandfather's gaze.
"I understand" Héctor replied and picked up the guitar, "instead we can stay up all night to write a new song for Imelda!"
Miguel groaned and picked up a pillow to cover his face with it, "remind me why you're sleeping in my room"
"Because you're the reason I got kicked out of mine" Héctor responded with a mischievous smile, "Plus I couldn't sleep in Rosita and Victoria's room for obvious reasons, I didn't want to stay with Coco and Julio, and Oscar and Felipe don't have any space in their room"
"Couldn't you just have gotten a separate bed in Mamá Imelda's room?"
"Imelda wanted the room for herself" Héctor was now playing upbeat chords, "and now prepare for an all-nighter with your grandpaaaa" Héctor matched his voice with the chords of his guitar, earning a loud groan from the boy.
…
Héctor and Imelda found themselves in City Hall with a marriage license in their hands, waiting for the next notary available to sign it. He wore a new suit that Oscar let him borrow, while she wore a dress of pale colors with her hair being arranged in a braid by Rosita with a few plastic flowers added by Coco Victoria had gone out early in the morning to put together a bouquet of purple flowers, which she gave to Héctor with a sly smile.
"Are you ready, mi amor?" he asked and gathered enough courage to take her hand and gently play with her thumb.
"Ready as I'll ever be" she answered with her voice sounding shaky.
Héctor looked at her carefully, he'd guessed that she was nervous since she barely spoke to him all and avoided his gaze but let him grab her hand and seemed to be shaking. In a way he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, when they had first married it was a small ceremony since they had to pay for the wedding themselves and didn't get a chance to go on a honeymoon. But now they had plenty of money to hold a big wedding and reception, and on top of that they could have a honeymoon. He had always been a romantic, and the idea of proposing to her all over again and seeing her walk down the aisle with a white dress in front of his new family and friends, well, that seemed like a dream come true.
"Héctor and Imelda?" a female voice called out from the office.
"This is it" Héctor said and leaned in to plant a kiss in her cheek. She smiled and got up cleaning up her dress anxiously with her hands, he grabbed one of them and kissed it, "You look so beautiful Imelda, tan hermosa…"
She rested her head in his shoulder, "you are what makes me beautiful" she admitted.
He hugged her, amazed at how warm her body felt. And for a moment, nothing else was important, it was just the two of them. They understood that they were made for each other, even when they got separated every path seemed to lead back to each other. She had ended their courtship plenty of times, and he was close to giving up but in the end, they rushed their wedding day. Even when he left and suddenly died, she still took him back and now they were finally together once again, not knowing what was coming next, praying not be separated anymore.
"Héctor and Imelda!" the female voice called out again impatiently. And suddenly they were apart and going inside the office to meet the woman, "there are 15 other couples behind you, so let's make this quick" the woman seemed to be in her early 30's with a few gray hairs and thick glasses.
"S-Sorry" Héctor mumbled and handed her the marriage certificate.
"Okay, I'll just sign this and then you two sign it" she said as she grabbed the pen from her desk.
"What happens after that?" Imelda asked, tightening her grasp on Héctor's hand.
"After all of us sign you'll be officially married" she answered and quickly signed the document.
"Just like that?" Héctor asked taking the pen.
"It is meant to be quickly" she answered hinting for the couple to hurry up and sign it.
He took a deep breath and signed it as quickly as he could as to not change his mind. He handed the pen to his wife-to-be with a shy smile, she took it and leaned over to sign the papers. Her hand shaking as she slowly began to write her name in cursive.
"I can't do it!" she snapped dropping the pen and taking a step back.
"Imelda!" Héctor stepped forward and gently stroked her cheek, "are you getting cold feet?" he asked feeling a mix of emotions building up.
"I d-don't know" she stuttered avoiding his gaze but allowing him to remain close, "I want to be married to you, but this doesn't feel right"
"Are you going through with this or not?" the woman asked impatiently, "we need to keep this line moving"
"Let's have a big wedding!" Héctor said with a big smile, "we'll invite everyone we know so I can brag that I'm marrying the most beautiful woman that ever existed"
Imelda chuckled and wiped the tears off, "yes, let's have the biggest wedding this town had ever seen" she stepped forward to grab the marriage certificate and tear it in half, then she looked at the woman, "no, we won't go through with it" she said proudly.
Héctor picked up his wife, amazed at how little she weighted and carried her out of the office. This earned them glares from everyone else in the hallway, but he still held her proudly.
…
The dark passage was familiar to Miguel, he had nightmares about it every night since he died. And they were always the same: he was back in the alley and getting murdered all over again. The more he had that dream the angrier he became, it was slowly turning him into someone he didn't recognize, and it was scary.
'Por favor… let me walk away' he desperately attempted to move his body to walk away, but he moved automatically, slowly headed towards his death.
The worst part of all of it was that he was aware it was a dream, and he knew what was going to happen, but it didn't matter how much he screamed or tried to pinch his arm. It was as if his body was in a trance, and he was stuck as a prisoner inside of his own brain.
He had now reached the middle of the path, and without any delay the man jumped from the shadows with his knife asking for the boy's wallet. As the routine intended, the boy froze at the sight of the knife and didn't move, making the man more desperate. Miguel tried for one last time to move his body, ordering his hand to reach inside his pocket to give the man his wallet so he could go home. Of course, this proved worthless, and the man lost any patience he had and grabbed the boy by his shirt, pushing him against the wall and thrusting the knife into his stomach.
This time there wasn't desperation or shock, only anger. Bubbling up very quickly and taking everything the boy every was away, leaving this unfamiliar character. 'I will kill you… bastardo… if I killed you, the whole world would cheer because you are a worthless piece of shit…'. The man smiled at the screams of the boy and twisted the knife slowly, but since his body was in shock there wasn't more pain. 'I will turn that smile into and expression of desperation… it would be so easy… and so fucking satisfying… to wait until you're too drunk to walk… and put my hands around your neck and tighten them slowly… watching you gasp for air' The man payed no attention to the threat that Miguel gave away as he was distracted counting the money in the boy's wallet. 'I swear on Mamá Coco´s grave that I will kill you' this statement snapped the boy's real personality back as the realization of what he just said hit him. 'Oh God… what did I just say? What have I done?' The man tightened his hand around the boy's neck before letting go and running away, 'make it stop… please… no more…' Miguel now had control of his body and he covered the wound with his hands.
"Ayuda… por favor…" the words came out as a whisper with no sound. 'I have to hold on, I'll be okay… I just need to get to the hospital and I'll be okay…', although the statement was false, the boy still found comfort in it, "AYUDENME! POR FAVOR!" now his words had sound and he identified quick footsteps heading to his direction.
'Did you kill him?' one of the voices asked
'Of course, he didn't, he's just a big coward'
'He might come back, you have to run'
'You're weak"
Miguel tried to block out the voices by focusing in the individuals coming to his aid, but now there was only darkness with voices as his only company.
'I'm talking to you, coward'
'Please run Miguel'
'Worthless'
'Can you do anything right?'
Suddenly, a bright light emerged stunning the boy and silencing the voices, and he was now facing a tall-looking skeleton. It was wearing a festive red and green dress with a big Mexican style hat, and it felt strangely familiar.
"Miguel Rivera" the skeleton asked in the form of a statement, it had a female and powerful voice that gave him chills.
"Y-Yes?" he stuttered.
"An unfair atrocity has been committed against you" the skeleton didn't move nor blink, "and I have gotten orders from above to make it right"
"W-Wh-Who are you?" Miguel swallowed attempting to not break eye contact.
"I am la Muerte" she responded, and her expression softened at the child's fear, "you may refer to me in whichever way you please"
"You are the Santa Muerte?" the boy asked starting to get more comfortable in her presence.
"I am simply Muerte" she answered, "I have taken this form based on your beliefs, but I can take any others if I please or need to"
"Why are you here?" he felt proud by recognizing that he wasn't too afraid to keep stuttering.
"You have been murdered by the same blood that killed your great-great-grandfather Héctor Rivera"
"Same blood?"
"The man who held the knife that killed you is the great-grandson of an illegitimate love child of Ernesto's" she squinted her eyes in anger, "the same sin has been committed in your family by the same blood and because of that, you have been given another chance"
"Another chance?" hope filled his chest and he began uncontrollably hyperventilating.
"Another chance at life" she nodded towards the boy and the hyperventilating stopped altogether.
"Gracias, um… Muerte?" he shrugged shyly.
"You may call me that" she responded in a softer tone, "but before you can take your second chance, something must be done first"
"What?" the boy's mouth curved into a smile, he was finally going home.
"Have you heard of the phrase 'eye for an eye'" she asked
"Yes"
"You must do exactly that"
"I-I d-don't understand"
"Take the life of the man that took yours"