Chapter 7: The Life I Used To Have Part 1
[Intro]
[Morning. Miracle City, 13 years ago. The sun rises as the people go on to their daily lives. Young children run in a playground, teenagers head rapidly to school, elderly citizens excoriate the teenagers, several delinquents hide from the police, and young adults endure rush hour when explosions are heard and several civilians are hurt in the process. Out of the smoke, armed men point guns at the rush hour crowd.]
FMCA soldier: This is the Free Miracle City Army! We demand that these fake Mexicans surrender or die for our cause! It's their fault as to why this country's drug war is an ongoing embarrassment in this city!
?: Stop right there, monster!
FMCA soldier: Who said that?
?: It is I, White Pantera! And I am here to save the day!
[White Pantera, aka Rodolfo Rivera, charges at the soldier with brute force. The other men point their guns at him and he dodges each bullet with precise timing. He then kicks the men in the back and front and beats up the hostages to a near comatose state. When the dust settles, he congratulates himself for his bravery, unaware of the shocked civilians' reactions.]
Civilian 1: What did you do to these people?
White Pantera: They were victims, yes. But they were being tardy. So I taught them what being tardy might feel like.
Civilian 1: You're an idiot!
White Pantera: You're welcome! Be good!
[As White Pantera leaves, we turn to a television on a storefront screen. It turns on a news channel.]
TV: This is Channel 3's Miracle City's News with anchorman Raul Salazar! And now, time for Miracle City's News!
Raul: Hello, Miracle City! What a beautiful morning, no? Okay! On today's news, the epic campaign between Salvador Allende and Porfirio Rodriguez is winding down as both candidates are neck and neck with votes from the city. While Rodriguez is favored by the east and middle parts of the city, Allende is backed up by the majority of the western parts of the city and gaining some bits of the middle on his side. In whatever case, whoever wins shall be our next municipal presidente! In other news, police brutality is on the rise as the new Miracle City Police Force are being questioned for their unethical tactics with several human rights groups testifying their attacks on the poorest side of town and letting the trust fund kids off the hook. We shall hear this debate at another time because terror has struck again. Yes! Miracle City's "hero" has unfortunately stopped a terrorist attack but not without putting several innocents to the ICU. We now take you outside where newly hired reporter Quintina is at West Miracle City Clinic! Quintina!
Quintina: Hi Raul! I'm outside the clinic where hundreds of families are hosting a vigil for a dead tourist who was a victim of White Pantera's rampage! This attack is only one of a series of horrifying damages done by a confused yet oblivious vigilante, White Pantera! A member of the infamous Rivera Family, Pantera is responsible for injuring a U.S. diplomat in Mexico City, sinking the cruiseliner Tlahuicole in Veracruz, silencing protesters for Puebla's petroleum construction, and an incident in Quintana Roo that is so unspeakable that the only thing I can say is "one guy's head was snapped out off his body for taking a pitaya".For these crimes alone, he tries to reason that he's protecting Mexico from the villains surrounding us. But I ask, how is violently beating an innocent African American woman tourist to death an acceptable act of heroism? If I ever meet that monster, I would say to his face that…
[White Pantera takes the news microphone and brags about himself]
Rodolfo: (self-congratulating) White Pantera is the best hero in all of Miracle City! The savior that this wonderful city needs in a cesspool of crime and villainy! The righteous soul for the weak and poor!
Quintina: Excuse me!? But that is my microphone, you thief!
Rodolfo: Pardon me, young lady! This is a job meant for brave strong men. Why don't you return back to the kitchen and make me a coffee and fresh bread!?
Quintina: Make me, you sexist pig!
Rodolfo: I pity her! She has the spine to talk back to this brave hero when there are girls like her who get kidnapped by drug barons! We need heroes like me to look after these girls! My dear, you need a strong buff man to protect your ripe, voluptuous body from being abused and used by villains everywhere!
Quintina: Do you even know what you're talking about!?
Rodolfo: This is Channel 3 News! Back to you, Yvette!
Raul: (confused) Okay! Ignoring the fact that my coworker is out for the day, in other news, a newly constructed school for the gifted has finally opened with the intention of teaching the children numerous studies, from ornithology, archaeology, anthropology, psychology, and many more! The new school director, Rosalind Xolena, has insisted that the school is for everybody, from the elite classes to the poorest children. "Education is for anyone who wants to learn more for the better of mankind", says Rosalind. In either case, the school is centered in the middle section of Miracle City, so you people in the poor district, you better run fast because seats fill up fast! And that concludes with today's news! I'm Raul and this is Channel 3!
[Television turns off. We then enter an apartment building with a house on top. We then see shadows of people talking. What starts as mumbles rises to full blown arguments. We see Manny, age 3, leaning behind a door and hearing the argument in full detail.]
?: You are starting to annoy me with this ongoing belief that you're Miracle City's "hero".
Rodolfo: But Maria, I have to save this city. The municipal president insists on my help.
Maria: So?! Let the New Heroes deal with it! You are a father! You need to be here caring for our son and not creating collateral damages!
Rodolfo: New Heroes! Just a bunch of privileged wimps who think "humanizing with the enemy" is the way to quell crime. Everyone knows it's full-on fists that can stop villains! And what do you mean by "son"?
Maria: Manny. The little boy who lives here. He's your son!
Rodolfo: Since when?
Maria: 1950, idiota!
Rodolfo: Come on, Maria! I have no son! I never wanted children! I wanted you!
Maria: Then why didn't you use a condom?
Rodolfo: Stupid woman! Heroes like me don't need some stupid condom!
Maria: No cursing! Our son might hear us!
Manny: Mama!
Maria: Manny! Did you hear what we said?
[Manny shakes his head]
Maria: Oh, Manny! You know better than to leave your room! Hold on? Rodolfo! Was this door unlocked?
Rodolfo: Yes!
Maria: Why?
Rodolfo: So that he can leave and we can start our romance.
Maria: Ugh, you pig! We have a son now! You need to be a father! Take this boy, raise him like a parent, and I'll be back after my rally ends!
Rodolfo: What rally?
Maria: We've been over this! I support the Allende campaign!
Rodolfo: Are you retarded, woman! We're a Rodriguez family! Allende wants to dismantle heroism and make the city a den of villains!
Maria: Allende wants to make heroes like you to understand ethics instead of wanton destruction. And I would rather have him be our municipal president than a Napoleon who wants oil rigs in the West and cultural landmarks demolished for skyscrapers! Goodbye, Rodolfo!
[Maria slams the door shut.]
Manny: Bye, mommy.
Rodolfo: (uninterested) Eh, you go that way! I got hero work to do! Be good or something.
[Rodolfo throws Manny outside and he lands in a dumpster. While he goes to do "hero work", Manny gets up and heads straight to Alazraqui Arms for a visit to Grandpapi. Mid-morning. West Miracle City. City roundabout. Allende is surrounded by his followers who chant appraisals while he talks about his policies to the public.]
Allende: And when I'm in office, I'll implement land reform. The farmers in this city have been brutalized long enough by the police for refusal to transform their land for unuseable housing.
[cheering]
Allende: And then, I will implement environmental policies to protect the land from capitalist destruction. We are at the apex of global warming and we need to save the planet, not profit from it! Our water must be conserved, not consumed! Our mountains must be pristine, not perforated! Our air must be clean, not toxic!
[cheering]
Allende: And after that, I will see our city's infrastructure is elevated! Public transportation must be a mandatory right, not optional! Our bridges, roads, and tunnels must have repairs immediately! Our garbage system needs a tremendous overhaul! Our schools must drop this antiquated requirement of low scores meaning expulsion! Our hospitals need a socialized medicine system for the disenfranchised! And above all else, we need our economy to outrank the United States and make it a shining beacon for all of Mexico!
[cheering]
Allende: Thank you! Thank you so much! Thanks for coming!
Campaign manager: That was a tremendous speech, senor! You have the entire public convinced of these made up policies!
Maria: You meant policies. You know, actual policies!
Campaign manager: Don't get me wrong, I mean, it's a great speech but he's running for Municipal President not President of Mexico!
Maria: Even so, you were wonderful, Allende!
Allende: Thank you, Maria! How's Rodolfo? He's still rooting for my opposite?
Maria: Unfortunately! He's convinced that pipsqueak will make him Miracle City's No. 1 Hero if he wins! I mean, Rodriguez wants to build an oil rig city in the Gulf of Mexico convinced that this project will produce $990,000/barrel!
Campaign Manager: What about it?
Maria: The site is 50 km from Rodriguez's mansion. And in that spot is an enormous coral reef that our Aztec ancestors have called "Chalchiuhtlicue's Coral". A reef many fishermen have sworn their lives to protect since that reef is their livelihood. By drilling that area, we risk killing innocent fish and other sea life, like the endangered Xocolitzo sea sponge and Zapoteca tuna!
Allende: Of course, Maria! Once I win, though, I'll see to it that the area is deemed unfishable!
Maria: But what about the fisherman?
Allende: Unfishable by non-Xocolitzo people!
Maria: Oh! Should have let you continue!
[Noon. East Miracle City. Rodriguez's mansion. Both him and Rodolfo are outraged by Allende's speech. Soon, police sergeant Evaristo arrives and witnesses the meltdown.]
Rodriguez: Argh! I slave away with the campaign, listen to the experts, give promises to the people and this is the thanks I GET! This is all because you married that stupid bitch!
Rodolfo: I tried to convince her that you will provide a better future. How was I supposed to know that she was influenced by his environmental policies!
Rodriguez: Is this because of that coral reef? (pours himself a scotch) I swear, why do people care about stupid sea rocks! The oil underneath is what's important!
Rodolfo: What about those rogue fishermen? They do protect that reef with their lives.
Evaristo: I'll just have my men arrest them for trespassing on government land.
Rodriguez: What? How dare you step foot in here without calling me first!?
Evaristo: (arrogant) Let's face it, I prefer walk-ins than an appointment. And don't try to attack me, you'll fail Pantera!
[Rodolfo grits his teeth, snarling at Evaristo, as Rodriguez tries to keep the peace by pouring some scotch.]
Rodriguez: Try to calm down, the both of you. Want some?
Evaristo: No thanks. I need to remain sober. I am a police sergeant.
Rodolfo: Give me the bottle!
[Rodolfo takes the scotch bottle and chugs it down, angrily. Rodriguez looks at him with disgust.]
Rodriguez: What a disgrace! What a waste of scotch, too!?
Evaristo: What do you want me to do with Maria, senor?
Rodriguez: I heard she's taking a flight. Make sure she never gets to her destination!
Evaristo: Sure!
[Evaristo leaves the mansion with White Pantera jumping out the window in a huff. Rodriguez sits in his chair, pondering about the election.]
Rodriguez: (thinking) I must win this election! My family pride is on the line! If I lose, I must leave in shame! But if I win, this town will make me recognizable to the other municipal presidents! Maybe I'll become President of Mexico! But no matter what the results are, I must deal with the New Heroes! And that Pantera pansy! He's going to be a liability once I'm elected! (laughing) And he thinks I'm going to make him the no.1 hero of this city. What a buffoon.
[Noon. West Miracle City. Calle Porqueira. Manny heads straight to Grandpapi's apartment by crossing the most dangerous street in Miracle City. The few civilians who still live there gasp at the audacity and bravery little Manny has walking the slums.]
Civilian 1: Oh my God!
Civilian 2: That poor boy!
Civilian 3: His parents must be blind or stupid to allow this!
Criminal 1: Hey! Do you know where you are, boy?
Manny: No?
Criminal 2: This is Calle Porqueira! This is the home of the forgotten, tough, and insane! Little boys are either inside or running with gangs! What is your business here!?
Manny: I just want to see mi abuelo.
Criminal 1: Hahahaha! Not so fast! There's a toll to enter and leave! Hand over 45,000 pesos!
[Suddenly, two figures kick and punch the thugs and fly away. Manny shrugs off the situation and keeps walking to his grandfather's house. Suddenly, a flier hits Manny's face. He picks it off and reads: "Preserve our communities! Stop Richland's expansion!".]
Activist: Excuse me! Can you give me that flier? I didn't mean to give it to a little boy.
Manny: What's happening to my city?
Activist: Something too much for a child to handle. Just run along. Nothing to see here.
Manny: Fine.
[Noon. West Miracle City. Gutierrez Place. Alazraqui Arms. The tenants are doing their daily tasks when a commotion is heard upstairs.]
Wife: Where have you been! I was worried sick!
Husband: My boss had me do overtime, again! Said that if the grill isn't spotlessly clean by tomorrow, I'm fired.
Wife: I swear that your donkey brained moron of a boss can't understand you have kids to take care of!
Husband: You know him! He's a playboy. The type who says babies are for "losers!"
Griselda: Hey! Close the door, Raimundo! Last time you left it open, stray cats entered the house and took our landlord's fish.
Raimundo: (confident) Sorry Griselda. But today is the day my lung transplant operation begins and soon I can walk, talk, and breathe normally without stopping to catch my breath. I'm just going around the block one last time before my big day.
Griselda: (shaking her head) Oy. First Rai is having a huge medical operation and next is this big election! My day surely is as big as my next attempt, walking downstairs without my cane or wheelchair.
[Griselda then does that. She climbs down, step by step, until she reaches the first floor without falling down. Confidently, she picks up today's newspaper and is greeted by the landlord, Grandpapi Andreas Rivera, formerly Puma Loco, carrying groceries.]
Griselda: Puma? You've been busy? What you got in that bag, senor?
Grandpapi: Just some essentials! Carne seca, cecina, pinto beans, my medications, cilantro, flour, butter, sugar, rum, and of course donkey fat.
Griselda: Donkey fat? What for?
Grandpapi: Griselda, Griselda, Griselda. It's for my 'Cuban Donuts'. The donkey fat is what gives them its unique flavor.
Griselda: Cuban? Donuts?
Grandpapi: They're my favorite food. I ate plentiful amounts when he was on vacation in the island of Cuba, before the revolution, and since then, I always eat one donut con cafe. After the revolution, I sometimes make them for myself since "nobody can perfect its texture but me" and "people get the ingredients wrong".
Griselda: Do they have sugar? Cause I can't eat one due to my condition.
Grandpapi: Of course they do. Part of the recipe is Cuban sugar. And getting one bag in this day and age is difficult already. Fortunately, I kept truckloads when the revolution happened.
Griselda: They, why did you buy store sugar?
Grandpapi: Because, beautiful Griselda: Cuban sugar is for Cuban donuts. Regular sugar is for my cafe, senorita.
Griselda: (flattered) Oh! Senor Andreas! Then pardon for my nosy behavior!
Husband: Senor Andreas! I'm so sorry, but I can't pay my rent upfront right now. My cable bill is eating up 67% of my paycheck. The hospital bill for my children blew 14% of my savings. And I haven't been sleeping well on account of my boss trying to ride me like a bull…
Grandpapi: Enough! I will give you another extension for your rent. You have until Monday to pay in full.
Husband: Full? How many pesos?
Grandpapi: 56,900 Pesos.
Husband: I barely have 7000 pesos in my bank account!
Grandpapi: (flabbergasted) How much do you earn for a living?
Husband: 800 pesos an hour plus overtime.
Griselda: And? You should have enough money to pay the rent.
Husband: I would but my boss says that due to new taxes, 80% of my salary gets cut and I end up with less than 400 pesos.
Grandpapi: What! This is despicable! Our hard working citizens, having to work full time in a part time job for pay way worse than chicken feed. I remember when I was young, people like me went to work in the factories, we had to do hard manual labor, we had their backs and we always had theirs. Our families started with nothing but the clothes on their backs and now they prospered from our work. Nowadays, those who can't fight back get under arrest for standing up while the real criminals get away unscathed.
Griselda: Wait? Weren't you once a criminal, Andreas?
Grandpapi: (indignant) Yes! But I had reasons to justify my crimes. My parents were dead. The factory I worked at shut down. And I had a family to feed. I could've been an ordinary man with an ordinary family and had any ordinary job and that would've been that. But, life is not ordinary. And Ionly steal from those who target the weak, meek, and simple minded, not the ordinary civilian.
Manny: (gleeful) Grandpapi!
Grandpapi: Nieto?
[Manny hugs Andreas and he hugs him lovingly. They enter with Griselda to the apartment and into Andreas' room. There, he makes the donuts while Manny plays with Griselda.]
Griselda: Ooh. You've grown a bit since I met you, Manuel.
Manny: Yeah. I want to be as tall and strong as my Grandpapi, back when he was my dad's age.
Grandpapi: Hey, hey. I am still in my prime! (coughs while covering his mouth) Sorry. Choked on my spit. Hey, nieto. You want a Cuban Donut?
Manny: Yeah.
[Andreas gives Manny a donut while he and Griselda continue their conversation.]
Grandpapi: I swear, that kid is the reason why I retired from villainy. It's such a shame his father doesn't see it.
Griselda: (sighs) Your son is such a menace! All he does is create terror and violence in W.M.C. and the police just gawk while he lays waste to the people. He needs to learn ethics!
Grandpapi: I know that! I tried to reason with him about this, try to remind him that he's the hero and not a villain. But then I realized that his ignorance is the problem! He thinks that being the hero, he can justify any destructive act as a good cause! Then he found love in the name of Maria Alavarez. I assumed that he would humble up a bit.
Griselda: That never happened at all, right?
Grandpapi: No! In fact the opposite. He grew obsessed with Maria. He refused to let her family attend the wedding. He refused to let Maria keep her job as a librarian. He even went to a futbol match, accused her for adultery, and you know?
Griselda: The police found a blood soaked ball at the entrance and discovered the onslaught. That's what Raul the newscaster says.
Grandpapi: Once she put her foot down, my son did the unthinkable. He kicked Maria in the abdomen and, as she puts it, her fallopian tube plopped out her butt.
Griselda: (horrified) Then, how was Manuel born?
Grandpapi: Call it a miracle but her body found a way to procreate. And soon, Manny Rivera was born. For Maria, he was a blessing. For Rodolfo, he was collateral. Based on what I've heard, my son never loved my grandson. Views him as a parasite rather than a human. He would often leave the front door open for him to walk out and convince burglars to rob him instead of rescuing the poor kid. And now with this election, I fear he needs proper guidance from a responsible adult than my son.
Griselda: Why not let him stay here? We'll take care of him.
Grandpapi: Unfortunately, his father insists that Manny is under the watch of both him and his wife. The assumption is that Manny won't grow up to be gay or something.
Wueco: How awful is he?
Nuzo: He's so homophobic!
Grandpapi: Hey! You two owe me some rent!
Wueco: Here's my share! Nuzo, yours!?
Nuzo: Here's my share! Hope that's enough?
Grandpapi: Okay, you're off the hook, for now!
Manny: Abuelo, who are they?
Wueco: I'm Wueco and that's my partner, Nuzo! He's a muxe.
Nuzo: What's your name, chico?
Manny: I'm Manny. Manny Rivera.
Nuzo: Hi Manny. You're so cute.
Wueco: What a tiny little boy! I wish you were my son! I treat you with the love any child deserves!
Manny: Thanks. Abuelo, can I play with them?
Grandpapi: I don't know. Your father insists you grow up a man., nieto
Manny: But I like being me. My dad stinks. He thinks being a man is about not showing any other feelings than pride. He says crying is for women and gay people.
Wueco: Pride? What kind of pride means you have to look like you're taking a dump. The only pride I feel is happy and free.
Nuzo: Emotions are part of being a human, kid. Crying doesn't make you any less of a man. White Pantera just lives in a black and white world where happiness is another shade of gray.
Manny: Great, thanks!
Grandpapi: Okay! You can go with them. Just stay safe.
Wueco: Come, little one! I got something to show you!
[Noon. Rivera house. Maria enters the house and hears utter silence.]
Maria: Manny? Rodolfo? Are you here? I swear that man does things that leave me befuddled. Manny!? My blessed baby? Where are you?
[Maria opens a door that leads to Manny's room and sees nothing. Panicked, she tries to call the police until Rodolfo arrives out the window.]
Rodolfo: Maria! You're finally here! Now we can go to bed to make sweet love!
Maria: Oh, grow a brain, you horny simpleton! Our son is missing because I left you with him by accident! Where is he!?
Rodolfo: I threw him away! Now, bed!
Maria: (outraged) YOU THREW HIM AWAY! FIND HIM IMMEDIATELY OR WE GET A DIVORCE!
[The house phone rings and Maria picks it up]
Maria: Hello? Police!?
Andreas: Hello? Maria! It's me, Andreas! Manny is here with me! He's alright. Don't worry.
Maria: Oh, good! I'm coming to pick him up! (hangs up) You're very lucky that your father has our son because otherwise I'd divorce you!
Rodolfo: So, no bed?
Maria: Is that all you talk about!?
[Alazraqui Arms. Muxes room. Manny is playing with the two guys as they perform a gay runway of their own. Manny is too busy enjoying it!]
Manny: I'm loving this!
Wueco: Are you feeling like a movie star?
Nuzo: Do you feel liberated?
Manny: I feel like myself. Happy and loved!
Wueco: That's what being gay feels like!
Manny: Is it normal to feel gay?
Nuzo: Depends on what normal means, dear?
Manny: Can you keep a secret?
Wueco & Nuzo: Yes!
Manny: I think I'm gay.
Nuzo: Gay like us or different?
Manny: Are there other types of gay?
Wueco: There's gayness, lesbianism, bisexuality, asexuality, transgender, non-binary, and so much more!
Manny: I think I'm bisexual. I say this because I like both guys and girls. Is that wrong?
Nuzo: Of course not! People who say it's wrong just don't understand our culture completely. Being gay is about love. And someday, you'll find someone who shares the same thing too! Like Wueco here!
Wueco: Love is love. Those who enforce boundaries are people who can't love at all. Remember that, little guy.
[Just then, the muxes door slams open and Rodolfo, angry, grabs Manny out the room. Maria, worried, takes Manny from Rodolfo's arms and holds him.]
Maria: Manny?! Where have you been?
Manny: With the muxes!
Rodolfo: No gay people! You'll get a disease!
Manny: They're friendly! And they said that I'm bisexual
[Rodolfo punches Manny in the face for his response. Andreas responds by locking his son in a full nelson.]
Andreas: That's not how you discipline a child!
[Manny cries as Maria comforts him.]
Maria: How careless are you to hurt an innocent!?
Rodolfo: It's his fault! He came out gay! I had to whack some sense into this bastard!
Maria: NO CURSING! I'm sorry for his inconvenience, Andreas!
Andreas: It's alright! My son needs to learn more than you.
[Maria leaves with Manny in her arms while the muxes say goodbye to Manny. Rodolfo, however, is confronted by his father.]
Andreas: You need to learn how to be a father! This idea that you're still in your prime is making your son hate you!
Rodolfo: I NEVER WANTED THAT PARASITE! I wanted Maria and her alone! And if you stand in my way, I'll beat you senseless and throw you in a pauper's grave!
Andreas: If you hurt that boy one more time, I'll take him under my custody and bar you in his existence!
Rodolfo: Do you smell charcoal? Better take back what you said or else?
Andreas: When did you leave heroism and became a villain?
Rodolfo: The same time I learned about the hypocrisy we live in! The frauds we elect and the heroes who abandon their purposes for "peace and love".
[Night. Rivera household. Maria opens the door and puts Manny down as he runs towards his room, in tearful shame. Maria confronts Rodolfo about his misdemeanor today.]
Maria: I hope you're happy! Thanks to you, our son is scared of being himself! How does beating him like a criminal make him a man!
Rodolfo: (upset) I did nothing wrong! It's his fault for talking to those gay people! Now he's convinced that crying is normal! Bah! I warned you that children cause nothing but trouble! (he notices some luggage in a corner, infuriating him) WHERE DO YOU THINK YOUR GOING!
Maria: It's for business. It's for our son's future!
Rodolfo: Liar! You're going to leave me to help that idiot's pipe dream! Rodriguez is going to save this city and you think traveling is stopping progress!
Maria: It's not progress if thousands of endangered animals are to die for money! How are environmental policies a pipe dream!? Does Rodriguez care about the future of West Miracle City's children or a gold statue missing on his front lawn!? I'm going to Europe and convince them that Allende is the right candidate and there is nothing you can do to stop me!
Rodolfo: I forbid this! You're a woman! Your purpose is to stay here and be a wife! That is the purpose of all women in the world!
Maria: Goodbye, Rodolfo! I'll sign the divorce papers and see to it that Manny is raised by a proper parent.
Rodolfo: Maria?
Maria: Why can't you grow up! Why are you such a manchild!?
Rodolfo: Maria!?
[Maria slams the front door shut, leaving a frustrated Rodolfo heading towards Manny's room to vent out his anger.]
Manny: (waking up) Mommy?
Rodolfo: This is all your fault!
Manny: What?
Rodolfo: You had to be born! You could've aborted yourself and left me and my wife in peace!
Manny: What?
Rodolfo: Oh, I see! You're laughing while the woman I love is leaving! You love those homosexuals than me!? Then, ride my fist hombre!
Manny: (frightened) Wait? What? No. No. No. No. No! No! No! No! NO! NO! NO! NO! HELP! HELP! HELP! HELP! MOMMA! MOMMA! MOMMA!
Rodolfo: (bone-chilling) Shut up, tonto! You love this, you gay bastard! Eat it! Eat my fucking fist!
Manny: (traumatized) STOP! STOP DOING THAT! MOMMA! HELP ME MOMMA! (blubbering) HELP ME GOD! DEAR LORD, HELP ME!
Rodolfo: (bone-chilling) SHUT THE FUCK UP, MARICON!
[The abuse continues throughout the night until dawn breaks. Manny, cowering in both tears and blood, opens the door to see if Pantera is sleeping. In a panicked moment, he runs to the front door and leaves the house. Manny tries to make it to Andreas' house before his abuser wakes up.]
[Morning. Zapotec Runways. Outside Miracle City. Maria is at the front gate and about to enter the jet. The following timeline details the events of what happened this morning.]
8:00 AM: Maria enters Zapotec Runway's front gate.
8:15 AM: Maria waits in the front lobby for the jet to arrive.
9:00 AM: WMC Civilians begin their daily routine. Maria boards onto the jet.
9:30 AM: Maria waits as her team arrives to board the jet.
10 AM: The jet prepares to take flight. One member of her team looks out the window out of suspicion.
10:10 AM: The pilot operating then leaves the runway and into airspace.
10:20 AM: The jet reaches a flight level of 5000 ft.
10:22 AM: Two witnesses from the north part of WMC recount events: An office worker who's running late spots a bright light in the sky. Another witness spots fire coming out the sky that day.
10:23 AM: A taco vendor from the south part notices a ball of flame in the sky while another witness on the 45th floor sees debris falling to the ground.
10:25 AM: Several witnesses claim a loud crash woke them up from their daily activities.
10:26 AM: Civilians rush towards the crash site. One calls 911 but no one responds back.
10:30 AM: Civilians walk at the crash site and start pulling out passengers. Paramedics from West Miracle City Hospital rush in to save whomever survived.
10:35 AM: Firemen from WMC rush in to put out the raging flames.
10:37 AM: Civilians pull out 3 passengers. One of them still has a pulse and is rushed to the burn unit. That passenger died 9 days later.
10:39 AM: Firefighters pull out the pilot and co-pilot. The pilot was declared dead while the co-pilot still has a pulse. The co-pilot, to this day, lives in an undisclosed area in Mexico and refuses to talk about the incident, out of PTSD fear.
10:45 AM: Civilians remove debris and one accidentally trips on the luggage compartment. There, firefighters and journalists discover bags filled with exploded devices meant to wipe out the passengers within.
10:47 AM: Civilians pull out the debris parts and uncover C4's strapped to the wing, tail, cockpit, and fuselage of the jet. One journalist states that "this is enough explosives to 'incinerate the jet' completely".
11 AM: Firefighters succeeded in wiping out the flames. The civilians line up the remaining corpses: 7 people.
11:05 AM: One civilian uncovers another person in the rubble. A badge was found on the corpse. The badge read: Maria Rivera-Alavarez.
End of Chapter 7