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Manny jolted awake as the car came to a halt. Looking outside the windows, he saw a small town through the dim sunlight. Something about this town was wrong, but he couldn't quite decide exactly what it was. As the woman and the large man pulled him from the car though, he realized. There were no people. The town seemed to be abandoned, and all the windows were dark. There also were no stores, not even abandoned ones. It was just cold, dark, gray houses.
As the sun rose above the horizon, a strange thing happened. A trapdoor opened in the ground of one of the crooked unpaved streets. There was a moments pause, and then people began pouring from the door. Manny's captors waited silently and patiently as they passed, each disappearing into a house, before entering the trapdoor themselves. Underneath the town, it was a different world altogether.
Beneath the tiny town above was a small city entirely carved from dirt and rock. Pale blue lights lit the walkways and buildings, and a few remaining people who had not left already wandered the streets. The girls wore long dresses and feathered hats, and the men all wore suits. These were obviously rich people, so why did they live above in a tiny town like that? Manny soon had his answer. The city below was filled with nightclubs and casinos. Flashing lights clashed with the pale blue of his surroundings. He was led into a small cafe off the main walkway. Most of the tables were empty, and it was cool and dark, but Manny was taken past the main area, into a small back room. The woman cautiously followed, but something seemed wrong with her.
Eight or nine men sat in the room that they had just entered.. They all looked over to see who had come, and one of the men stood. "Emelie!" he said, "My favorite daughter!" The young woman smiled and sat next to him. He then looked at Manny, and frowned. "And who is this?" The giant bodyguard started to reply, but Emelie interrupted. "I don't know," she said, "He came and interrupted our... investigation at the portal. He apparently fell from the tracks." Suddenly, realization dawned on her father's face. "It can't be," he said, "are you... Manuel Calavera?" Manny began to nod, but Emilie suddenly stopped him. "No, he isn't, he's taken a bad fall and doesn't know what you're talking about." Manny glared at her. "Yes, I-" "No, you're NOT." Manny could take a hint. "Yes, I took a pretty bad fall, I'm not quite sure." There was a long silence as Emilie's father eyed him suspiciously. Emilie was the first to speak. "I'll investigate this matter just to be certain. We'll be back within an hour." The man finally agreed, reluctantly, and Emilie shoved Manny outside.
"What were you doing in there!" she yelled at him once they were safely out. "What was I doing..." Emilie narrowed her eyes. "You're a wanted criminal here! We were looking for you at the portal! You killed Hector!" she paused for a moment. "They were going to kill you." Manny turned on her angrily. "Then why did you bring me here! What changed your mind all of a sudden?" "I-" she stopped. "I don't know. But I do know that it isn't safe for you here. You have to leave Atare. Come on, we have to get out of here. We have to get you where you belong." "Where I belong right now," said Manny, "is in the ninth underworld. Something, or someone, doesn't seem to want me there, though."
* * * * *
The bonewagon finally pulled up in front of LSA headquarters in El Marrow. Meche and Glottis stepped out, and came up to the door. After being questioned by a couple of guards, they were let in to see Eva. Eva seemed happy enough to see them, but inside there seemed to be a deep sadness. "Where is Manny? And shouldn't you be in the ninth underworld right now?" she asked. "Well, that's the problem! Manny was... lost at the gateway. Our train was attacked by-" "Attacked?" interrupted one of the soldiers. "Yes, by a... a strange creature. We all got out except Manny, he fell from the tracks... but he was alright, Pugsy and Bibi went to fetch him. Except that when they got there, he was gone." Eva shook her head. "I don't know where he could have gone, or why that thing attacked you. Hopefully he would realize to come here, or to Rubacava where our other base is." Meche was puzzled. "But isn't your work here finished?" Eva smiled thinly. "Not even close. Hectors pawns remain scattered all across the land of the dead. Maximino being the main one, in Rubacava. And there is talk on the streets of an even greater, new crime boss on the rise."
Eva looked around before beckoning to Meche. She followed Eva into another room, filled with books and papers, computers and other equipment. "Ever since... the death of our great leader, extensive research has been made on what happens to a soul once it has been sprouted. It can't just disappear! We are on the verge of a breakthrough, and I believe, that, maybe, there could be some way of bringing them back.." "But that's impossible!" cried Meche, "And it's not right! What if it found it's way into the wrong hands? The poor souls of those sprouted should be left in peace." Eva looked determined, almost cold. "Don't tell me that, if Manny was sprouted you would not want him back. That if given the chance, you would not bring him back." Meche fell silent. "Research on the antidote will continue as planned. Now I suggest that you go to Rubacava and meet with our associates there. Now." There was no disagreement, and Meche hurried back to the bonewagon where Glottis was waiting.
To be continued…
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