Chapter 8: The Life I Used To Have Part II
[Intro]
[Morning. Calle Porqueira. Manny is running towards Andreas' house in the slums. He runs into several thugs]
Thug 1: Hey, boy! Where do you think you're going?
Manny: Safety.
Thug 2: Not here you aren't. Anybody who walks on our turf needs to pay the price!
Manny: I have no money.
Thug 1: Then you have to pay with your life! Hold him down!
[Manny gets into an altercation until a policeman intervenes.]
Salazar: Hey! Ho! What's going on here!
Thug 1: Cheese it! It's Salazar! Run for your lives!
Salazar: Hey boy! Aren't you too young to cross the street by yourself, kid?
Manny: (panting) I'm going to my abuelo's house! I can't go home anymore! My father will beat me if I return. Help me!
Salazar: Hey. Hey. Hey. I'll take you to your grandpa. Climb on board.
[Manny climbs on board the policeman's car and as Salazar drives, he makes a turn to somewhere else.]
Manny: (worried) Huh? Hey, mister. My grandpapi's house was that way?
Salazar: (demeanor changes) We're not going to his house.
Manny: What?
Salazar: We're going to the police station and interrogate your lying ass!
Manny: (terrified) I want out of here!
Salazar: Too late! You should have told me the truth instead of fibbing, you unruly brat!
[Salazar arrives at the precinct and drags an upset Manny through the hall. He then throws him inside a room and shuts the door. Suddenly, two other men enter the room and cuff Manny as Salazar interrogates the poor boy.]
Salazar: So, tell me. Where's the drugs!?
Manny: I don't know what that is?
Salazar: Don't lie to me, tonto! Where's the drugs?!
Manny: I don't know what that is?
Salazar: Why do you lie, tonto!? Tell me where the drugs are or else I'll get very unpleasant!
Manny: I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!?
Salazar: (snaps fingers) You two, hold him down! (unzips his pants) If you keep lying to me like a woman, then you better satisfy me like a woman!
[Salazar violates a young Manny for mistaking him as a member of Calle Porqueira's gangs. The pain itself masks the yells of the screaming child as the cops keep holding Manny to the ground. They then drag the unconscious boy to a holding cell until he can cooperate.]
[Noon. Channel 3 News Studio. Jeff Bennett District. East Miracle City. Raul is busy practicing his lines when Quintina barges in with breaking news!]
Raul: Quintina!? What did I say about knocking first?
Quintina: It's an emergency! West Miracle City's Maria Rivera is dead! She died in a plane crash!
TV: We interrupt the following program for a special news bulletin!
Raul: Channel 3's Miracle City's News anchorwoman Quintina is live at the site. Quintina?
Quintina: Hi, Raul! I am standing here at West Miracle City where a jet heading to Europe exploded midair and crashed a few miles from here. Maria Rivera, the leading figure in Salvador Allende's campaign for municipal president, has died in a plane crash! Journalists surrounding the crash site have reported that they've uncovered explosives layered all over the jet. Enough C4 and to render a small jet to ashes! By the time MCPD arrived, almost 8 people had died in this horrible tragedy. The only survivor, the copilot, is being transferred to WMC Hospital! I'm at a loss for words here, Raul. Why would anybody want to target an innocent person? What would they gain from this?
[Suddenly, every TV becomes static. Several onlookers have confused or angry expressions. The static then turns to random hooded figures with a banner saying "Free Miracle City Army"! Suddenly, a hooded figure turns to the camera and says its message.]
FMCA soldier: (distorted) We are the Free Miracle City Army! We speak for the disenfranchised because you morons keep living in a bread and circus city! We are here to tell you that we take responsibility for the plane crash that happened at Zapotec Runways! We killed Maria Rivera by planting the C4s inside the jet! Maria Rivera is an example of bourgeoisie culture infiltrating proletariat areas in an attempt to disrupt our plans to preserve this city's cultural identity. All hail Allende!
FMCA soldiers: (in unison) All hail Allende!
[TV turns to static before returning to Channel 3 news.]
Raul: Well, that was surprising!? Wait, hold on? I'm getting something from the earpiece. It comes as a surprise but, minutes after we have been hacked, a shocking development in the municipal presidential race is that Porfirio Rodriguez is the new MP of Xocolitzo! I repeat, Porfirio Rodriguez is the new MP of Xocolitzo! After the FMCA declared that Allende was behind the plane crash, Rodriguez wins in a landslide!
TV: This has been Channel 3 News!
[2 months later. Mid-Morning. La Equihua Central. Equihua District. Rain patters the ground as the funeral directors lay down the caskets of the plane crash. Everybody in WMC attends, even Salvador Allende, to pay respects to the fallen. Andreas arrives to lay flowers on Maria's grave.]
Andreas: (grieving) My poor in law. Who's going to look after my grandson now? Even his father refuses to tell me where he went.
Allende: I didn't do this, Andreas. Why would I want to kill my beloved supporter? I have a staunch anti-paramilitary stance against the FMCA! Whoever did this wasn't supporting me or my policies!
Andreas: I know this was a set up, Allende! There was no way she died because you saw her as a liability!
Allende: And you this because?
Andreas: I was a supervillain! I know what constitutes petty crime from dirty tricks! This was an inside job! Probably enacted by Rodriguez as a sick jab to your winnings!
Allende: Probably? But do you have proof that this was his doing?
Andreas: No! But I promise you, I will get to the bottom of this! Somebody needs to pay for such a disrespectful act, Allende!
Allende: Thank you, Andreas. Even though you were a criminal back then, you will always be a man of the poor! What are you going to do now, senor?
Andreas: I am going to protect Manny! He's probably wanting to know what happened to his mother. (sighs) Manny, just wait a little longer!
[Mid-morning. WMC precinct. Ubach District. It has been 2 months and Manny has suffered a lot of turmoil. Under the strict watch of Salazar, Manny has been interrogated, beaten, violated, and tortured because Salazar mistook him as a Porqueira gang member. Inside a prison cell, Manny wakes up and asks for food.]
Manny: Hey, mister? I'm hungry. Can I eat?
Guard: Shut up tonto! We told you already! You will get food once you confess about the drugs!
Manny: Okay, I admit. I know where the drugs are.
Guard: Where are they?
Manny: My grandpa's house!
Guard: Liar! You say that to escape! Try telling us the truth!
Manny: I am!
Guard: And you continue to lie! Just for that, you'll never get fed for a year! Good luck starving, liar!
[Suddenly, the front door opens and out comes Rodolfo. Pissed off, he finds Manny in a cell and berates him.]
Rodolfo: You! You leave the house, run alone in the streets, join a gang, get arrested, and cry like a baby! What happened here?
Salazar: You know this delinquent!?
Rodolfo: My wife calls him her son! I see him as insurance!
Salazar: Well, this liar was telling me tall tales about going to grandpa's house and then kicked me in the balls when I asked for his parents! I was trying to ask him if he partook in a drug ring rumor I heard was happening in Calle Porqueira. (looks at Manny condescendingly) You see what happens when you lie! You end up with situations like this! Now go to your father and learn about what you did today!
Rodolfo: LET'S GO TONTO! LYING TO POLICEMEN! YOU DESERVE 100 BELT WHIPPINGS!
[Manny exits the cell and leaves with his father only when they arrive home he punishes Manny by whipping him.]
Manny: Dad! NO!
Rodolfo: (mockingly) Dad no. That's you! Now take it like a man!
Manny: I want my mommy!
Rodolfo: Yo Mamma ain't here boy! She left because your ugly face ruined our marriage!
Manny: Momma!
Rodolfo: Shut up! Estupido chamco! Hanging out with homosexuals! Wearing dresses like a girl! Joining gangs, selling drugs, and lying to the police! And what's worse, you left your poor mother to die. But since you want to dress like a woman, then you will satisfy me like a woman!
[Rodolfo unzips his pants, stuffs Manny's mouth with socks, and rams his butt with his fist. This continues throughout the night until a knock on the door wakes up Manny. He opens the door and Andreas is standing there, horrified to see Manny in a disheveled state.]
Andreas: Manny! What happened here?!
Manny: My…father…touched me. Help!
Andreas: I'm getting you out of here! You horrible man! How dare you hurt such an innocent child! Where's your conscience!?
Rodolfo: Put that parasite down, now! I'm not done with his punishment.
Andreas: No!
[Andreas slams the door and runs out with Manny in tow. They make it Alazraqui Arms where the tenants try their best to calm Manny down.]
Manny: (blubbering) He violated me! He was my father and he beat me up for nothing
Griselda: It's okay. You're safe here with us. That bad man won't touch you here.
Andreas: Hey, Manny. You want a donut?
Manny: (tearful) No thanks. I don't deserve food for killing my mother.
Andreas: What?! Manny, you weren't there. Who told you that?
Manny: (tearful) My father. He said I killed her for being born.
Nuzo: That monster! I expected this from the policeman who arrested you for mistaken identity but your father! Such shame!
Wueco: It's alright, little guy. So long as we're here, you'll never have to cry again.
[As the tenants try to wipe Manny's tears and injuries, SWAT vans are parked nearby to monitor the situation.]
SWAT officer 1: So? Is Operation Puma Pierce greenlit?
SWAT officer 2: Good to go!
[Noon. Rodriguez Mansion. East Miracle City. Rodriguez is celebrating his victory by binging on booze, lobster, and several foodstuffs at the banquet table. Soon, his guests arrive to celebrate his success. Among them are newly appointed chief of police Evaristo Suarez, Miracle City's No.1 Hero Rodolfo Rivera, police captain Salazar, head warden Chakal, The League of Heroes, Deputy Director Batista, and head judge Carmelita. There, they mingle as well as partake in Rodriguez's victory.]
Batista: I say, now that Rodriguez has the reins of power, it'll be up to us to decide the future of this city.
Chakal: Indeed! First, we shall round up all the journalists who defame us and then anyone who opposes our judgements!
Salazar: But first, we need to deal with the New Heroes! I don't know about you but those New Heroes and their talk about "ethics" are rubbing me the wrong way!
Carmelita: Look, as long as Napoleon there can make our lives easier, all of those problems will go away instantaneously.
Evaristo: Yes indeed! Now, let us toast to a new future for the city of miracles!
Everybody: Hooray!
[Everyone inside the mansion then partied the night away while Salazar looked at his drink, confused.]
Salazar: Say, senor. What type of liquor is this?
Rodriguez: Eh, some European brand. Why?
Salazar: Cause my drink. It looks blue for some reason?
Rodriguez: Yeah, because it's European! See! Chibaba Bud! Probably from Madrid?
[Rodolfo takes the bottle, looks and reads it.]
Rodolfo: Actually, it says Xibalba's Blood.
Rodriguez: Oh. Who cares!? It's a party!
[Unbeknownst to Rodriguez, once every partygoer drinks their glass, their veins start glowing blue. One partygoer's eyes turn white. And the screen turns black as Rodriguez turns a crimson red.]
[5 days later. Noon. Rivera household. Gutierrez Place. Manny is busy putting his clothes in a suitcase.]
Manny: I'm leaving this city forever! I'm going to live with grandpa and then we are going to a farm and I'll finally be free from that monster. I only hope grandpa hasn't forgotten our little promise. One day, I'll make that farm my home and I will have a family as numerous as the stars!
[Manny finishes packing his stuff and leaves the house. He starts going to Alazraqui Arms until he remembers he forgot something. He runs back to the house and opens a door with the words: KEEP OUT! & NO SISSIES!]
Manny: I almost forgot. The belt. The El Tigre belt. I still remember that day.
[Flashback to a year ago. Manny was 2 and is at awe as he sees the belt glowing. He tries to touch it until his father excoriates him.]
Rodolfo: Estupido! How dare you touch this "glorious relic" with such filthy hands!
Andreas: Rodolfo! He's just a child. It's okay, nieto. This "glorious relic" is the El Tigre belt. A legendary item passed down from our family for generations. This was originally worn by the first El Tigre. A strong man who, despite his indecision between good and evil, was the inspiration behind many of our ancestors' epic efforts throughout history.
[Manny points to it with glee]
Andreas: One day soon, nieto. When you reach 13, you will wear this belt and decide whether to be good or evil. But in either case, you'll always be loved.
[Andreas puts Manny down and Rodolfo condescends him behind his back]
Rodolfo: (sarcastic) You'll wear this belt and decide! Yeah right! The day you actually earn this belt is when you actually earn the right to be a Rivera! And you, SO, do not have that right!
[Flashback ends]
Manny: I can't take any chances. I'm taking this belt and there's nothing he can do about it!
[Manny straps the belt onto his waist and then runs off to meet with his grandpa. He runs from street to street, even crossing red lights to reach safety. By the time he gets there, the entire building is on fire.]
Manny: (horrified) Abuelo!
[Manny runs to the burning building to find his grandpa only for Wueco to stop him.]
Wueco: No Manny! You can't go in there!
Manny: But, my grandpa. My grandpa is inside!
Wueco: I know! And so is Nuzo, Griselda and Raimundo!
[Suddenly, groans are heard inside the building.]
Wueco: Huh? Nuzo? Nuzo! Nuzo, grab my hand!
[The flames are too powerful for Nuzo to get rescued. Suddenly, the roof of the building bursts open and out comes Andreas, in his Puma Loco suit, carrying the tenants on one hand. Once he powers down to the ground, he lowers the tenants to the street pavement as Manny rushes to his grandpa as he coughs repeatedly.]
Andreas: Nieto. (coughing) What are you (coughing) doing here? (coughing)
Manny: (blubbering) Don't you remember? I'm going to live with you and then we're going to live on a big farm that I'll one day own. Remember?
[Suddenly, firefighters rush in to put out the flames. Meanwhile, several paramedics take the tenants to the WMCH burn unit, including Andreas.]
Paramedic 1: Don't worry sir! We're going to the hospital to check if your injuries are severe!
Manny: Wait! I'm coming too! He's my grandpa!
Paramedic 2: Sorry kid! This is serious business! Go play or something!
Manny: Grandpa. Grandpa! Grandpa!
[As the ambulance drives off to WMCH, Manny runs straight at the ambulance in order to see his grandfather. He gets lost in Calle Porqueira's dark streets when suddenly massive explosions erupt everywhere.]
Manny: What was that?
[Car Explosion]
Manny: AH!
[Street Explosion]
Manny:AHH!
[Building explosion]
Manny: HELP!
Manny: Momma! Abuelo! Wueco!
[Manny runs away from the explosions until a charred corpse grabs his leg.]
Corpse: (breathing)
Manny: Ahhh!
Corpse: Help me!
Manny: Ahhh! Don't hurt me! I just want my mommy!
Corpse: HELP ME!
[Suddenly, another explosion rocks the streets and the corpse gets blown away, leaving its severed arm attached to Manny's leg as he continues running towards the ambulance. Another explosion happens and Manny is knocked out. His eardrums are blown off as he fades in and out of consciousness until the last image he sees is a shadow. Manny wakes up and finds himself in a jail cell. A guard bangs his nightstick to wake Manny up.]
Guard: Well, you finally woke up! About time you lying sack of shit!
Manny: What?
Guard: First, you lie about the drugs! Second, you lie about not being White Pantera's son! And now you set fire to an apartment building and blow up Calle Porqueira! To think some hood has that much hate for innocent people!
Manny: But, I want to see my grandpa!
Guard: Too late for that, liar! He's dead from a heart attack!
Manny: What?!
Guard: And now your father will arrive to take you home, terrorist!
Manny: But I'm just a child!
Guard: Well, boo hoo hoo! Welcome to the real world! First rule: No lying!
[A few hours ago. WMCH. Andreas is resting in a hospital bed when he hears footsteps coming. He wakes up and sees Rodolfo looking at him, menacingly. Afterwards, a nurse walks in and closes the curtains around Andreas.]
Andreas: What's happening? Where's Manny?
Rodolfo: The stupid kid is fine for now! As for you, remember what I said!?
Andreas: Rodolfo? Why are you doing this? What would Maria say about this?
Rodolfo: Shut up! You want to take that parasite with you and help him thrive. It's his fault why she's dead! All he does is cry, whine, and bitch like a woman! Now, it's my turn to make that parasite understand why he's nothing!
Andreas: Rodolfo! Manny is not nothing! You were given a normal life and became a hero. He's just an innocent boy who's life was stolen from him and the last thing he needs is more trauma! Don't do this, I beg you!
Rodolfo: Hey, old man! How much do you like your heart!?
Andreas: What?
[Rodolfo then plunges his fist into Andreas' chest, yanks out his heart, throws it to the ground, and stomps it to pieces. Andreas goes into shock and dies. Rodolfo leaves the hospital, enters a police car and grins evilly. A few hours later, he arrives at the WMC precinct, walks towards Manny's cell, opens the door and beats the boy in a laughing fury.]
Rodolfo: Time for me to teach you the true meaning of fear! (laughing) Hahahahahahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
[Dusk. WMC precinct morgue. Ubach District. Underneath the prison cells, a mortician is busy prepping a random corpse while getting his audio recording ready. A few hours later, a prison guard uncovers the autopsy recording. The following you're about to hear has been recovered after a "gas explosion" rocked the morgue. Certain audio remains damaged to this day.]
Mortician: Testing, testing. One, two, three! This is Dr. Mombasa and I'm in the process of examining our fellow victim. Externally, the victim has 2nd to 3rd degree burns with the facial structures barely intact. The hair of the victim seems to have melted into the skull and given the fact that a bomb was ignited, several pieces of shrapnel lacerated the front lobe, leaving our victim unable to move or react verbally. The victim's bones are identified as female. And, wait, I seemed to have knocked over some embalming fluid onto the corpse. Well, might as well take this out and resume.
[static]
Mortician: (confused) Wait! What was that? Where's the corpse?
[static]
Mortician: (terrified) Wait! Who are you!?
[static]
Mortician: (shitting his pants) AAAHHHHH!
[loud noises then static]
?: I LIVE!
[Night. Ubach District. Near the end of city limits, Rodolfo is clutching Manny's shirt as he enters an apartment building and reaches the roof.]
Rodolfo: End of the line, amigo! Out there, you'll die of many things and for once nobody will care!
Manny: Why? Why are you doing this?
Rodolfo: The question isn't why, really. It's why not. Who's going to stop me, idiota? Not the police, not your abuelo, not my wife, and most certainly NOT YOU! Hahaha! I'm the Hero of this city and I'm going to appreciate the sympathy these morons will give me! Now, be a good boy and DIE!
[Rodolfo throws Manny from up high to the desert. He also takes Manny's luggage, identity papers, and photos to a boiler room downstairs and throws them into the fire. Satisfied, Rodolfo leaves the building nonchalantly and commences his "heroic duties".]
[Dusk. La Jardín de Malinalxochitl, Outside Miracle City. Several Vampiros are walking the desert in hopes of finding the city.]
Rabbi Vampiro: Are you sure this is the way?
Mexican Vampiro: Of course! The stars said so!
Rabbi Vampiro: That's what you said during that turn at San Luis Potosi. And let me tell you, those masks sure saved us from that rambling farmer!
Mexican Vampiro: All I asked was some dried beef. How was I supposed to know that he was an arms dealer?
Rasta Vampiro: Enough babbling! The 3rd El Tigre is somewhere in that city and you two keep chatting about yesterday's incident like it was our first time! Also, where's our remaining crewmates?
Mexican Vampiro: Yeah, they're still somewhere in Tamaulipas! Something about a cartel holding a town hostage!
Rasta Vampiro: Don't worry about it. With that feisty shaolin in their group, they'll arrive faster than a comet.
British Vampiro: In the meantime, we'll continue with our plan. Infiltrate, converse, secure, and train the next El Tigre to save the world from disaster.
Rasta Vampiro: That's if we can find the boy!
[Suddenly, something in a trash heap wriggles. Rabbi Vampiro walks towards the pile and he lifts the bag out comes Manny, disheveled and near comatose.]
Rabbi Vampiro: Oy! I found a kid! He's badly injured! He needs medical treatment immediately!
British Vampiro: What is it, sire!
Rabbi Vampiro: It's a child! Lift him in the stretcher!
Rasta Vampiro: What happened here!?
Rabbi Vampiro: We found a child in that pile of garbage! He's emaciated and in critical condition!
[Just then, the moon lights up and a glimmer hits Rasta's sunglasses.]
Rasta Vampiro: What's that in his waist!? Open it!
[The Vampiros lift Manny's shirt and the El Tigre belt shines beautifully]
Rabbi Vampiro: Can it be!?
Mexican Vampiro: I told you. The stars never lie
Rasta Vampiro: The boy we saved is indeed Manny Rivera, the 3rd El Tigre!
[Manny is taken to an undisclosed site outside Miracle City. There he's given an array of IV's for his health. He wakes up, befuddled, until several Vampiros sedate him for safety. Afterwards, Manny confides to his saviors about the events that led him to this.]
Manny: And then I was beaten to a coma and (sniff) thrown to the dump. That's why I can't go home! He's going to beat me up! (sniff) And it's all my fault! (sniff) I…
Rasta Vampiro: That's enough! There's no need to cry. You're safe here from those bumbaclots who tore up your idyllic childhood.
Manny: (blubbering) I can't thank you enough! I want to stay with you! I…want…you to…be my…new family!
Rasta Vampiro: No need to cry. You can stay here with us. All we ask is for you to help us.
Ernest: And in return, we will give you a home.
Jim-Bob: And a bed. I made it with my own two hands
Rabbi Vampiro: And food to eat. Enough to satisfy your stomach.
Mexican Vampiro: And music. We can have lots of fun.
Shaolin Vampiro: And training. It helps keep your mind and body in check
Priest Vampiro: And prayer. Love is kind and patient. And you need more love than ever.
Rasta Vampiro: And medicine. Your body needs time to heal. But you need to say it now or we vanish. Well, what do you say?
Manny: I want to say yes but where is our new home?
Rasta Vampiro: We have a place away from here. A farm with acres of pristine soil that you can grow in peace!
[Flashback to a year ago.]
Grandpapi: You see nieto. See that patch of land. One day soon, I'm going to buy acres and acres of land and give it to you when you grow up.
Manny: I will own that much land? What will I grow there?
Grandpapi: Whatever you want, mi nieto.
[Flashback ends]
Manny: (sniff) Yes! I want to go home, sir!
Rasta Vampiro: No!
Manny: Huh?
Rasta Vampiro: Never call me sir! Call me Rasta! Call us by our firsts! We insist!
Manny: Uh, okay Rasta. I want to go home, Rasta!
[The Vampiros proceed to hug Manny and he cries happy tears. Once the image fades, we see them walking to a huge field with a dilapidated barn and house that reads "For Sale". Manny smiles at the prospect.]
End of Chapter 8