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EMPTY EYE SOCKETS CHAPTER 19
Salvador pushed the door open and stepped on the roof Manny and the rest in his trail. They had seen Maximino's zeppelin even before they had gone after Hector, and they had suspected that the crime lord could try to escape by it. They feared they were too late, if Hector managed to escape everything would have to be started from the beginning.
Though his power in Nuevo Marrow had been crushed -- partly because of the LSA, partly because of Maximino -- Hector still had many loyal men all over the Land of the Dead. If he escaped finding those men would not be too difficult for him.
But now it looked like they wouldn't have to worry about it after all.
Even though the man's body was covered by flowers it still wasn't difficult to recognise Hector LeMans. He lay on the roof on his back and yellow and red pedals hid most of his face.
Next to the sprouted crime lord stood Domino Hurley who turned around right when Salvador appeared.
"You," Salvador said shortly. He had never really met Domino personally, but he knew the man's reputation and much of his doings.
Domino snorted. He too knew who he was dealing with and it didn't please him at all.
The situation didn't look good.
"Where is Meche?" Manny asked and pushed his way past Salvador. Domino shrugged.
"How should I know?" he asked.
"If you have hurt her, I will -- " Manny started, but Domino interrupted him.
"You what? You think you can take me?"
"If needed, yes."
"Pretty amusing, Cal. But don't worry, Meche is fine. And even is she isn't, it isn't my fault. She came with me and left," Domino said.
"Why?" Manny asked.
"I think she wanted a free ride to this city. But that most not be our most important subject at the moment."
Manny shook his head.
"So you don't know," he stated and something in his voice made Domino feel more nervous than he wanted. He was always nervous when someone knew more than he did. And this time it was even Manny.
The man who was to blame for everything.
"Know what?" he asked.
"Not my business to tell it," Manny replied.
"And as you said, we have more important matters to discuss. Like what happened here," Salvador cut in. He pointed at Hector's sprouted body.
"I shot him," Domino stated simply. It clearly aroused confusion and that had been his intention. How he loved attention!
"You shot him?" Eva repeated in suspicion. She and Manny knew Domino better than Salvador, Carla and Glottis and neither of them believed that the man was ready to do that. Domino was too greedy, selfish and intelligent to shoot the man who could offer him everything he wanted.
"Yes."
"Why would you do that?" Salvador asked sharply. He had his own gun in his had, just like Manny and Eva did. He didn't think they would have to use them -- despite his arrogance Domino wasn't a maniac like Hector -- but it was for the best to show Domino who was in charge.
"You sure that is your business?" the man asked.
"Yes. Nuevo Marrow is in the hands of the LSA now and we are in charge until DOD sends someone honest to take over," Salvador said.
Domino flinched slightly when he heard the news, but he wasn't too surprised. He had guessed what the situation was when he had come to the city and seen what state Nuevo Marrow was in. But he had hoped that he would find a way to get lost before anything like this happened.
"I see," he said.
"So talking would be a quite sensible option," Manny pointed out.
"Did someone ask your opinion?"
"Yes, that little invisible man over there."
Domino sighed in frustration and glared at Manny. "You never change, now do you?"
"Probably not."
"We do not have time to lose. If you don't want to give us useful information we can as well sprout you now. That is the only thing we can do if you refuse to co-operate," Salvador said to Domino.
"Freedom fighters have no sense of humour. Fine, Hector sent his men after me, so I thought it would be the best to get rid of him before he does that to me," Domino said.
"Hector sent men after you?"
"Yes. He didn't trust me after that little island incident," Domino said and glared daggers at Manny.
The man had to chuckle.
"I like the moral of this story," he said.
Salvador shook his head and pointed his gun at Domino.
"You have to come with us. DOD can decide what to do with you," he said.
---
Night had arrived and the city of Nuevo Marrow was calmer than ever before. It was ironic, actually. The city was usually lit by colourful lights and voices, but now that two groups had attacked it and fought with the third it was very quiet.
Souls had withdrawn in their homes and hotels and LSA men patrolled on the street catching escaping criminals and other trouble makers. Despite the calm feel the situation was tense and everyone was waiting for whatever would happen next.
"So you won't stay in control of the city?" Manny asked Salvador, and the rebel shook his head.
"Of course not, my friend. I and my warriors only want to defend justice and see that an honest soul leads matters," he said.
"Could prove difficult in this world."
"Perhaps, but now that Hector and Maximino are gone things are better. We only need to take care of their men," Eva stated.
"And what do we do to them? What can we do to ones like Domino?" Manny asked.
"That is not our decision. The representative of the DOD arrives tomorrow and will pronounce the sentence. We have to settle with that," Salvador said.
"If you wanted, could you just shoot him and claim that he caused trouble?" Manny wanted to know. Salvador looked at him in surprise.
"He has been behaving surprisingly well. Would you like me to do it?"
Manny shook his head.
"No, I just wanted to know your reply. Should have guessed it actually," he said.
There was a knock at the door and an LSA agent stepped in.
"Yes?" Salvador asked.
"A woman is here asking for agent Calavera. We found her on the street," the man said.
"It must be Meche," Manny said.
"True. Let her in," Salvador added.
"Right, sir!"
The soldier left for a while, but returned soon with Meche. The woman looked like she was alright, there was merely a confused expression on her face and she glanced behind her before stepping in.
"Meche, are you alright?" Manny asked.
"I am fine. I just don't understand what is going on," Meche replied. She felt very strange in this city, especially now when everything had been turned upside-down.
"Don't worry about that, everything is in control. You are save here," Manny assured and guided Meche to sit on a free chair.
"But what has happened?" she asked.
"The Lost Souls' Alliance has won and Hector is gone. Now the souls of this world don't have to fear corruption anymore," Salvador replied. This was the first time he met the woman who had been the reason for Manny's journey through the Land of the Dead.
Meche clenched her fists.
"And... what about Domino?" she asked carefully.
"He is in our hands until tomorrow. The DOD will decide what to do with him," Eva stated not lifting her eye sockets from the report she was writing.
"You didn't shoot him?" Meche asked in surprise. She had no idea what had happened, but it had to be something serious if the freedom fighters had let the man be.
"He did us quite a favour by getting rid of Hector LeMans. We can't shoot him. At least not yet," Manny said. "Though he deserves it more than anyone else I know.
"Could I speak with him? I have some thing I would like to tell him," Meche said.
"Are you sure? It could be better that you never say that to him," Manny advised.
"Perhaps, but that is entirely my decision," Meche said more sharply than she had intended to. She glanced at the others in the room and felt more self-confident that she would have believed. She didn't know everyone around that well, but she felt that she could trust them all.
"This is a very special situation. No one knows what will happen tomorrow, so it could be the best if you take care of things while it's still possible," Salvador said and stood up. "Come, I will take you to him."
---
Well, the situation was better than he had expected. He hadn't been sprouted yet, and though it would probably happen on the following day Domino was on a pretty positive mood.
He had never been a man of principles, but if he was to be executed he was damn well happy for having shot Hector before that.
The sound of two steps broke his trail of thoughts and he took a better position in his chair. The LSA had chosen an office building to be their HQ and they had locked him up in one of the empty offices. He had no idea whose office it was, but that person certainly didn't know how to keep his desk clean.
The door was opened and Salvador Limones stepped in.
"What now? Come to give me another lecture?" Domino asked.
"No. Someone wants to see you."
Domino tilted his head in curiosity and confusion. Who could that be? He couldn't name anyone who could possibly want to see him.
"Don't let him stand outside for nothing," he said. Salvador stepped aside and let Meche come in.
"Knock at the door when you want to leave. I will be waiting," he said and left. The lock clicked when he locked the door.
Meche and Domino looked at each other.
"What are you doing here? I thought you had got enough," the man said then.
"I... have something to say. I actually should have said this a long time ago," Meche replied. She looked around in the office. Everything was more or less out of place and it felt hard to believe that someone could have been working there the very same morning.
Domino said nothing, just sat there behind the desk. He suspected he was finally going to hear Meche say the reason to her very out of character behaviour. Something also told him that he would not necessarily like it.
"I could say this in a very complicated way, start with how I arrived in this world and what happened then, but neither of us has the time. So I'll just simply state that..." Meche drew a deep breath.
"I love you."
If Domino had been playing with the coffee mug that was on the table, he would have most likely dropped it.
"What?" he chuckled.
"You heard what I said."
"But I must have lost the meaning of it."
"I love you."
"You already said that!"
"But you wanted to hear it again."
Domino said nothing now. He couldn't begin to describe his feelings, and the words wouldn't have been very beautiful. It was very long since someone had said that to him, it had happened when he had still been alive. He had never been a very respectable or honest man, but every now and then a pathetic girl had fallen for him and thought she could gain something better with him.
He had always rejected them, usually after spending a night with them. The girls had deserved to learn how cruel the world could be.
But Meche was no weak girl, but a strong willed woman. Was that supposed to mean something?
"Domino?" Meche's voice disturbed him and he raised his gaze.
"Yes?" he asked. Meche shrugged looking innocent.
"I don't know," she replied.
And Domino didn't know either. He really didn't. As ridiculous as it sounded, he felt like he had betrayed himself. All this time he had thought that Meche had followed him because of selfish reasons, that she had just wanted to find Manny and Nuevo Marrow. Not even once had he considered that she could... A crush perhaps, but...
It was not like women like Meche to feel anything but contempt towards men like him.
And what did he feel towards Meche?
Well, she was attractive, he had to admit that. But Domino had never even considered loving -- the whole word sounded odd -- anyone. It just wasn't like him.
But...
Now that Meche had said it...
A confused silence had taken over the room and neither of them wanted to say the next word. Unlike usually, Domino waited for Meche to decide what to do and Meche wanted Domino to be the leader, just like he always was.
"Well?" she asked after a long while.
"Well what?"
"What do you think?"
Domino was silent.
"I don't think I am able to love anyone," he said then.
Meche turned her gaze away.
"I see," she said. "I... I guess I have nothing else to say, then." She turned and knocked at the door, and it didn't take many seconds before Salvador came and opened it. The man didn't have to ask, one glance at Meche's face was enough to tell him everything. The freedom fighter glared at Domino over Meche's shoulder and closed the door.
The lock clicked again and Domino was starting to feel that perhaps he should have said something else.
---
"I hope Meche won't be too hurt," Manny said to Eva. They were alone with Carla now that Salvador and Meche had gone.
The woman shrugged.
"She will get over it," she guessed.
"I hope."
Carla looked at the both of them.
"You don't think Domino could love her?" she asked.
"Of course not. We have known Domino for years and believe me, ones like him never love anyone. Except themselves and money," Eva replied.
"And even if he did he is too proud and arrogant to say it aloud," Manny added. He didn't like this at all, and he didn't mean only Meche's situation. He felt like the whole building was about to collapse on him, he just couldn't tell why.
"I have to get out," he decided.
"What? Now?" Carla asked in surprise. "Won't you wait for Meche?"
Manny shook his head.
"No, but I will be back. I need to think about this," he said. Carla nodded, but Manny doubted the woman understood. She probably thought that he only wanted to organize everything in his mind, but that wasn't the whole truth.
Manny knew that now was the time to think about his future. The DOD representative would arrive to take over the situation and he wasn't sure of what it meant for him. Originally he had just wanted his job back, but now he couldn't even think about being a reaper again.
Yes, he didn't want his old job back anymore. Especially since Carla was with him.
"I will be back soon," he promised and left before Eva managed to say anything. The woman was fair and nice in her own way, but she had wits and could hurt people bad with her words. Manny could only hope that Salvador got along with the ex-secretary.
The night in Nuevo Marrow felt quiet and peaceful, but that was nothing new to Manny. He was used to the old El Marrow and hadn't had the chance to see the city's noisy follower. The streets were almost dark, sad neon lights decorated the few and reminded everyone of what Hector had left behind.
There was a bright spot in a dark corridor and someone -- probably one of Hector's men -- smoked a cigarette. Manny waved his hand at him. He stayed on the safe areas on purpose and tried to clear his thoughts.
What would he do?
For a couple of years his afterlife had had a meaning, finding Meche. Then it had changed into helping the rebels and getting rid of Hector. And now that all that had been done? What did he have left?
Carla of course, but what else? He couldn't continue without some destination or task. Reaping wasn't an option anymore, Manny didn't want to return to his old office and the smell of dust anymore. And yet that was all he could hope for.
Funny...
Manny couldn't say what horrible he had done during his life. Of course he had been part of everything nasty from smuggling to beating up anyone who his boss pointed at, but he hadn't been worse than anyone else. In fact, when he had compared himself with the crooks in Rubacava he had realised that he was pretty innocent indeed.
Oh well, DOD had always been playing their cruel game that no one else could control.
"Manny! Manny!"
He felt someone wrap her arms around him and his first reaction was to throw whoever it was over his back, but then he recognised her.
"Lola?" he asked in confusion and removed the woman's arms gently. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh Manny... I... I loved him!" Lola sniffed and lowered her head. She backed away and clenched her fists. "I'm so stupid."
"Who are you talking about? Maximino?" Manny replied. What was Lola doing in Nuevo Marrow? And dressed up like that? The long revealing dress wasn't Lola's style at all. She might have looked pretty in it, but at the moment she was too sad to look beautiful.
"Yes, Manny. I loved him and he.. Manny, what have they done to him? I can't find his men anywhere," Lola continued. She seemed to be in panic and Manny didn't like what he would have to say.
"Hector shot him, Lola. I'm sorry."
Manny really meant his words, though not because of Maximino. His empathy was on Lola's side and it felt so wrong and unfair that she had fallen in love with a useless man. And she wasn't even the only one.
His own problems felt very small suddenly and he was ashamed of his previous thoughts. Meche and Lola were going through something terrible and he mourned because of his job. At least he had Carla.
Manny wrapped his arms around Lola.
"I think you are not the only one with a broken heart tonight," he said and started to lead the quietly sobbing woman in the temporary LSA HQ. "I know where you'll be safe."
---
The sun rose in both the Land of the Living, and the Dead, and that morning it seemed to warm the stone buildings of Nuevo Marrow with unusual warmth. No one who had stayed in the city for long could remember seeing a more beautiful morning, and even those who had known the old El Marrow were charmed.
Of course there were those who felt the sun rays burn their bones like acid. They were those who hadn't waited for the morning, but had wanted the dark moments to last forever.
Domino was one of them.
Despite that he was very self-confident and had decided to take everything that would follow well he couldn't help but feel slightly nervous. He had a pretty good idea of what his fate would be and he didn't like it.
And many others feared the morning as well. Others who had worked for Hector or supported him weren't feeling cheerful either. They all knew that their souls were in the hands of the new DOD representative and the thought was very chilling.
"It is morning," Salvador said to Manny as they stood on the road waiting for their guest. Salvador thought it was his honour to show what his men had done and make sure that each criminal was given a fair trial. He thought they all were crooks, but he didn't want to be blind like Hector.
The city was very quiet so they could hear the car coming even before they saw it. When it got nearer they saw that it was a fine shining black Ford. It parked in front of them and a man dressed in a dark green suit stepped out.
He shook hands with Salvador.
"Good morning. My name is Ricardo Blana and I am here to look at the situation. I am the representative of the DOD," he said formally and nodded.
"We have been waiting for you," Salvador said. "Right now Nuevo Marrow needs order more than anything."
"True, true. But I see that everything has been going on well," Ricardo stated.
"Salvador and his men have done a good job and there has been no problems," Manny cut in. Ricardo turned to look at him.
"And you are?"
Manny offered him his hand.
"Manuel Calavera."
"Ah, the escaped reaper? Hmh, I was looking forward to meeting you. I want to have a word with you," Ricardo said. Manny didn't think his future looked very bright. Ricardo turned towards Salvador again.
"But I heard that you have captured some of Hector's closest men. The DOD has given me the right to act as I please," he said.
Salvador nodded.
"True, we have imprisoned several crooks. But each of them deserves to be treated as a person and I can't let you do anything too soon," he replied.
"Of course not. But, excuse my curiosity, we were informed that one of them turned against Hector at the last moment. Any truth in that?"
"Yes. Domino Hurley, Hector's right hand, started to feel threatened and attacked Hector. He was the one who shot him," Salvador informed.
Ricardo didn't look pleased.
"So the rumours were true. We know that traitor quite well. It is not hard to believe that he turned against his master."
"But what are we going to do to him? Many are ready to shoot him, but some others think it would be too harsh now that he has helped us," Manny pointed out. He didn't actually care about Domino at all, but had to think about Meche.
The woman had been devastated the last night and mourned together with Lola. Manny and the others had tried to make them feel better, but they couldn't have understood the women's pain like they themselves did.
"We shall see that. In fact his fate is one of those things I need to take care of today. The first is this," Ricardo said and took a huge suitcase from the car. "Hector has sold or hid most of the stolen Double N-Tickets so DOD decided to print out new ones for everyone. I have to share them as soon as possible."
"Double N-Tickets?" Manny asked in surprise.
"Yes, those that you should have been selling," Ricardo stated. Manny decided to keep his mouth shut, he would just make the situation worse by talking.
Ricardo opened the suitcase and one of the golden tickets stirred. After that there was a flash and it found its place on Salvador's chest. Manny had to cancel his earlier intention of snorting.
"So, you have your own ticket, golden boy?" he asked playfully. Salvador took the ticket in his fingers and looked very uncomfortable.
"Yes," he said quietly.
Ricardo took other tickets from the suitcase and briefed through them.
"This one is for Mercedes Colomar. I heard that she is with you," he said.
"True, and I feel that she wants to leave this world as soon as possible," Salvador said. He slipped his own ticket in his pocket.
"Good. Let's see her so that she can have this and then I can take care of that traitor. Better get rid of that task soon. After that I need to get this place working again. When Hector was in charge the DOD office here didn't function very well. The reapers will be busy," Ricardo decided. He seemed to be a man who was used to being in charge.
"Have you decided what to do with Domino?" Manny asked.
"Actually not, the DOD made the decision for me. I can't control everything, though I am pretty powerful. But I can have a word in what will happen to the others prisoners," Ricardo said. He closed the suitcase and lifted it from the ground.
"Let's go then. We don't have the whole day."
---
Domino knew what was coming when the door was opened again. He had stayed up the whole night and it wasn't only because he was afraid of the morning.
He had been thinking about Meche's words.
"I love you," still rang in his head and though he tried to forget them the words were like carved inside his skull.
"Stupid," he muttered to himself right before Manny stepped in the room.
"Time to go Dom. Mister Authority has paid a visit," the man said and Domino could hear that he wasn't pleased. He snorted.
"Something wrong? You sound like things aren't too well," he said in amusement. Manny shrugged.
"If he gets to make the decisions he might as well sprout me too for "betraying" the DOD and leaving. He doesn't seem to like traitors," he said.
"What a reliving piece of information."
"Well, you brought this upon yourself."
Manny didn't mention Meche at all. He wanted to be mad at Domino, but it was impossible. He had known this would happen so the result hadn't surprised him at all. He was just sad for Meche.
"Let's go. The sooner we get there the sooner I will know how many years I need to labour," he added. He gave Domino a push with his gun and he started to walk. Like he had any other options.
Manny led him in Hector's office where others who had something to do with the matter had already gathered. Ricardo was there with Salvador, Eva, two other LSA agents and Meche, who had wanted to be there. She lowered her head when Domino entered.
"The situation is simple. I have many reasons to be here today and I am sure we all know them. My mission is to give the Double N-Tickets to those who deserve them and decide what to do with Hector's supporters," Ricardo said and opened his suitcase that he carried around all the time. He was probably too afraid to let it out of his sight.
When he opened the case one of the tickets flew out of it and bolted at Meche. It felt like a living creature and brushed against the woman's arm.
"What... my ticket?" Meche asked in surprise. Her head had been too full of other matters and she hadn't even remembered that there was a ticket for her as well. She suddenly realised that she would be in the Ninth Underworld the very day.
She glanced at Domino. Maybe that was better.
There was a sharp click when Ricardo closed the suitcase again. No one else in the room was worthy of a ticket.
He coughed.
"Now I have taken care of that," he said and turned towards Manny. "And you. Your case is very interesting and we had a long conversation concerning it in the DOD."
"So they finally noticed me up there?" Manny guessed in slight amusement. Ricardo didn't look like he had a sense of humour.
"We have been following your doings all this time and agreed that you left El Marrow for a good reason. You tried to correct your mistakes and the battle against Hector wouldn't have been that easy without you. That is why the DOD has the honour to announce that your sins have been forgotten and you are free to go and do whatever you want with your afterlife," Ricardo said.
Manny was silent for a while.
"I don't have to become a reaper again?" he made sure in surprise. To some people that bit of information would not have meant much -- he would still have to walk through the Land of the Dead -- but that made him as happy as a Double N-Ticket would have made.
Ricardo shook his head.
"Never again. You may stay to live here or continue towards the Ninth Underworld, we don't care," he said. Then he glanced at Domino. "But your situation is very different. You betrayed the DOD, sprouted souls, stole a huge amount of Double N-Tickets and -- "
"You don't need to list my crimes for me. I remember all of them," Domino interrupted. Ricardo glared at him.
"Do you even regret what you did?"
"No, with the possible exception of one thing. But that is none of your business."
Ricardo sighed.
"If I had the right to make the decision you wouldn't be talking or standing anymore, but unfortunately my superiors have a softer heart than I do. They speak of justice and second chances..." he muttered the last words in despise. "I don't have the right to do whatever I want, but this decision will not break me. At least I will be able to see how you labour for a small eternity," he added.
"What do you mean?" Domino asked in surprise. This conversation wasn't going like the one he had prepared himself for.
"What I just said. I am now Don Copal's follower and I am responsible for the DOD functions in this city. Now that Manny has no depth to pay off there is going to be more work for you, but --"
"You won't shoot him?" Meche interruped.
"I wanted to, but my superiors disagreed. They think we can't shoot a man who took care of Hector, even though his crimes are almost as horrible as Hector's. They also say that we need reapers who know how the work is done," Ricardo said. "But it won't be easy for him. We will give him his old job back and when his new crimes are added in his depth it is going to take quite a while before he is free. And this time he will not be given the chance to escape or betray anyone."
Manny elbowed Domino.
"Hah, you were wrong after all," he said.
"What do you mean?" Domino asked. He couldn't decide whether he should have been happy or disappointed. He wasn't sprouted, but he would have to be a slave for the DOD again.
"Do you remember when you told me that I can have my office back once you have been promoted away? I guess it doesn't work now because I got to leave before you," Manny said and couldn't keep a hint of malicious pleasure away from his voice. Domino sure deserved everything he got.
"How nice, Cal."
"I am... happy for you," Meche's voice said next to them. "I was afraid they would shoot you."
"I am happy for myself too. I didn't feel like getting shot," Domino said and cast an uncomfortable glance at Manny. He was feeling silly enough already, he didn't want Manny to hang around.
"Carla must be waiting for me," Manny stated and crept away after glaring at Domino.
"And I think I am happy for you as well. At least a little. You don't get your own Double N-Ticket every day," Domino continued. He might have said something else, but Ricardo decided to speak again.
"I have to go now. Many tickets are waiting for their owners and I have to arrange my office for tomorrow. I trust that the LSA makes sure that he goes nowhere and appears in work tomorrow," he said and pointed at Domino. The man was sure that his future in work would be incredibly frustrating.
Ricardo made sure that the suitcase was properly closed and left. It was a sign for the others and they all left one by one. Domino was not allowed to go alone of course, Salvador sent a man to make sure that he tried nothing.
---
"I guess you'll be going then. The LSA will miss you," Eva said to Salvador. The man held his golden ticket in his fingers and looked thoughtful.
"The Ninth Underworld... You know, we used to dream of it together when I was still in DOD. Manny always had such strange images of it and Domino had his opinions too. But that was a long time ago, before we even knew someone called Hector LeMans existed," Eva continued. She was on a talkative mood and said everything she could come up with.
She would also miss the charismatic rebel leader Salvador Limones. Maybe even more than she dared to admit.
"I never liked trains," Salvador admitted.
Eva snorted.
"That is pretty useless at this point. You should have lived an imperfect life like I did," she said. "A miracle that Ricardo didn't force me to become a secretary again."
"He let Manny go and you have been just as important. Without you the LSA wouldn't exist," Salvador said.
"Hah. What have I done?"
"These years have been hard and I do not think I could have stood them without you. You have given me hope."
"Well, all is fine now. You will get your rightful place in the Ninth Underworld and the LSA is still strong."
"I don't think so..."
Eva raised her gaze.
"You don't think we'll be fine without you?" she asked in slight annoyance. Salvador placed his hand on her shoulder for a short moment.
"It's not that," he said and ripped his Double N-Ticket into pieces. "I am not leaving."
---
"I still can't believe that they let me go," Manny said. Carla snorted softly and shrugged.
"And I can't believe that they didn't give you a Double N-Ticket. I think you deserved it," she said.
"That doesn't matter. I couldn't have taken it anyway."
"Why not?"
Manny elbowed Carla.
"Who would you have travelled with then? And do you think I would have skipped our future adventure?" he asked.
"What adventure?" Carla asked.
"Nuevo Marrow is controlled by DOD and the LSA now, they don't need me anymore. No one needs me now and I don't have to work for anyone. You can't believe how relieving that situation is. Now I can concentrate in myself and what is important to me," Manny replied. "Like you."
Carla chuckled.
"So you are going to drag me on a senseless trip through the Land of the Dead?" she asked in amusement. Then she became serious again. "What about Glottis?"
Manny didn't look happy anymore either.
"I would like to take him with us, but it is impossible. He is a demon and can never leave this world, this is where he belongs," he said. "They are probably going to give him his old job back. Or maybe he can become a driver for one of the new reapers."
"I will miss him. Where is he?" Carla asked. She got her reply when someone grabbed her behind and lifted her in the air.
"I'm right here Ms. Ferra," Glottis said and put the woman down. He looked just as happy and carefree as always and Manny thought it was sad to think that this could be the last time he saw his best friend.
"Glottis..." he started carefully, but the demon shook his head.
"Manny, don't. You don't have to say anything. I know," he said and sniffed then. "You shouldn't be sad. So many good things have happened."
"I know, but I still have to wonder..."
Glottis shrugged.
"Now I get as many cars as I want," he pointed out. "You don't need to worry about me. Take care of yourself and Ms. Ferra."
"I will," Manny said.
---
"Why is it me who has to carry this stupid suitcase?" Nick asked angrily and threw the case on the ground to rest his arms. Olivia chuckled.
"But Nick, you can't really expect me to do anything. I am an artist, I don't have to labour," she said.
"I am a lawyer and I shouldn't be doing anything physical either."
"You didn't think that way last night..."
Nick and Olivia had left Nuevo Marrow behind thems and were in the Petrified Forest at the moment. They hoped that no one would go after them -- the last people they wanted to meet where the rebels -- and that they would get safe in Rubacava that could offer them so much. Like a boat to Puerto Zapato where they would be safe.
"If you don't help me I will leave the money here!"
"Do it and we are both in trouble."
"Hmph!"
"If I were you I would keep my mouth shout, your argument can be heard miles away," a voice said and both travellers flinched.
"You!" Nick exclaimed in surprise when he recognised the form of Chowchilla Charlie. The man looked like he had run through the forest like a maniac. "What are you doing here?"
"What? Did you think I would stay in Nuevo Marrow after that fiasco? No no, that place is so mad now that even I wouldn't make it," the con artist replied and shook his head in misery.
"More like especially you. The LSA will clean the whole city," Nick said.
"Whatever. That is gone now and I must concentrate in the future. I see that you two have a very lovely traveling companion," Charlie said and pointed at the suitcase.
"Don't even think about it little one, the money is ours," Olivia said.
"Really? I think that you are going to need a professional con artist wherever you go. There is always use for me, right Nick?"
Nick shook his head.
"I don't know and I am not particularly even interested. I just want out of here and get a drink," he said.
"Same here, same here. I hear they have excellent clubs in Puerto Zapato."
Olivia snorted.
"It's easy to talk. How can you be so sure that we'll get that far?" she asked.
"That is simple, my dear," Charlie said. "We are all from Rubacava. We were made to survive."
---
Dear Toto,
Salvador let me use one of his pigeons to send this letter even if it doesn't have anything to do with the LSA. Well, I guess it concerns the revolution a bit. I am in Nuevo Marrow and as you must already know, we won. We won both Hector and Maximino and the city is returning to normal now. DOD will come back and everything will be fine again.
But everything is not fine for me! Oh Toto, I know I sound stupid, but I am so sad. I really loved him and though I understand that he wasn't perfect I still can't stop loving him. I don't know what to do...
I am coming back to Rubacava. You are the only one I have left anymore and I need to think. Maybe the sorrow will go away one day.
With love, Lola
The End
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