19Where were you in the morning, baby?
You didn't leave your number for me
Left me without a warning, baby
Where were you in the morning, baby?
How do you, how do you just walk away?
How do you, how do you just walk away?
Where Were You In The Morning? - Shawn Mendes
Date: 03/11/16 (Day/Month/Year)
Miguel slowly opened his eyes and checked his surroundings, quickly recognizing it as de la Cruz's tomb. He quickly sat up and checked his hands, no bones and the guitar was laying close by. Without thinking he grabbed the guitar and bolted out of the tomb and out of the graveyard unknowingly passing an empty grave full to the brim with marigold petals.
...
*GASP*
A gloved hand shot out of the petals and clawed at the ground, trying to get out of the grave. Todd pulled himself out and writhed on the ground. He tore off his helmet and began coughing heavily. He curled up in a fetal position as he attempted to get his breathing under control, his lungs struggling to pull in oxygen, his heart beating fiercely like a jackhammer, his muscles and whole body ached. "Mig-uel' he wheezed as all the events of the night caught up with him. He crawled over to his helmet and pulled it over his head once again, he tried to stand up only to stumble forward. 'This must be what being born feels like' Todd thought to himself. His eyes narrowed and his teeth clenched in determination. 'Get up you bastard!' he mentally screamed to himself. He rose to his feet and began to stumble toward the Rivera workshop, remembering where Dante led him yesterday.
Todd arrived at the Rivera workshop and saw Miguel's family all crowded around a room, Todd slowed down and quietly leaned against the wall and listened closely. 'You got this Miguel'
"Mama Coco?" Miguel said softly "Your papa he wanted you to have this..."
He then heard the beautiful strum on a guitar, Miguel then began singing
"Remember me, though I have to say goodbye
Remember me, don't let it make you cry
For even if I'm far away, I hold you in my heart"
A second voice then began singing along softly
"I sing a secret song to you each night we are apart
Remember me, though I have to travel far
Remember me each time you hear a sad guitar
until you're in my arms again
Remember me"
Todd had tears in the corners of his eyes, it was beautiful.
"My papa sang that song to me," Coco said to Miguel
"He loved you Mama" Todd heard Miguel say with tears in his eyes "He loved you so much"
Todd smiled as tears began to roll down his face, through his tears he heard the sound of a drawer opening "I kept the letters and the poems he sent me and..." Todd pecked into the room and saw Miguel grabbed a shred of the original picture and saw the faceless man was Hector. Todd very quietly began to run away from the Rivera workshop once he was a safe distance away he jumped and pumped his fist in the air "Yeah!" he yelled in triumph, all of the panic and pain was all worth it. Todd then began to cough so he sat on a nearby bench to catch his breath.
"Mission accomplished"
Mini Timeskip brought to you by this epic quote:
A hero need not speak.
When he is gone the world will speak for him
- Halo 3: Believe Advertisment
After a couple of minutes, Todd walked back to the workshop, he saw Miguel leaning on the wall near the entrance. "Hey!" Todd said catching his attention
"Todd!" Miguel said as he ran up to him. Todd placed his helmet on the floor and ran up to him and pulled him into a hug, lifting him off the ground.
"We did it!" he whisper-yelled to not attract attention "You did it!"
After a short while, Todd and Miguel sat down near the entrance backs against the wall
"Hey, Miguel?" Todd asked
"Yeah?" Miguel looked up at him
"Did all of what happened last night, actually happen?"
Miguel let out a small chuckle "I think it did" he then placed a hand on Todd's shoulder "Thanks for helping me Todd, I couldn't have done it without you"
"Yeah you could've" Todd brushed off
"Hey even if I could it doesn't hurt to have a nudge in the right direction" Miguel smirked
The Kiwi smiled "You're welcome mate"
For a while they sat there in silence, as if contemplating all of the previous nights' events, suddenly Miguel perked up as he remembered what Todd promised, "Hey didn't you say you would play a song when we got out?"
Todd's eyes widened "No No No," he said nervously "That deal just expired"
"Oh come on Todd you promised"
Todd let out a small sigh "Oh okay, A promise is a promise."
Miguel smiled and led Todd into the courtyard of the Rivera home. They walked over to a table, Miguel handed the guitar to Todd
Todd took off his gloves and set his helmet next to him before strumming the while skull guitar, "You know its an honor to be playing this" Todd said with a smile "I haven't played in a while in a while so it might suck" He stumed the guitar just to get a feel for it before playing the song, he took a deep breath and began to sing:
"Please, don't see
Just a boy caught up in dreams and fantasies
Please, see me
Reaching out for someone I can't see"
Todd couldn't explain how he was playing the song! I came so naturally to him as if his soul was playing on his behalf. Unbeknownst to both of them, the entire Rivera family watched Todd's performance.
"Take my hand
Let's see where we wake up tomorrow
Best laid plans
Sometimes are just a one night stand
I'll be damned
Cupid's demanding back his arrow
So let's get drunk on our tears
And, God, tell us the reason
Youth is wasted on the young
It's hunting season and the lambs are on the run
Searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars
Trying to light up the dark?"
Todd then stood up and began to dance while playing and began to sing in his best falsetto voice.
"And I thought I saw you out there crying
And I thought I heard you call my name
And I thought I heard you out there crying
(normal singing voice)
"But are we all lost stars
Trying to light up the dark?
But are we all lost stars
Trying to light up the dark?"
(Lost Stars - Adam Levine)
He ended the song with a gentle flourish. Miguel was speechless, the song was beautiful.
"Was that good?" Todd asked nervously
"You kidding? that was amazing!" Miguel exclaimed
Todd set the guitar on the table and grabbed his helmet "Miguel, I want you to have this" He handed the helm to Miguel
"What?" Miguel said in surprise "No, I can't take this-"
"No, please take my helmet" Miguel took the helmet and then quickly ran off, after a short while he came back with a pen and notebook, Todd and Miguel exchanged addresses so they could write to each other. Todd and Miguel then embraced.
"I'll see you around," Todd said
"Todd thank you really"
"Oh yeah try not to glitch into the Land of the Dead again please?"
"I'll try" Miguel laughed
They let go "Adios amigo," Todd said with a wave
Miguel gave him a small wave, as he took off.
"Miguel?" his mother's voice came from behind him "Who was that?"
"Oh that was Todd, he helped me jog Mama Coco's memory" He explained
After a short while, Todd arrived back at the house and quietly climbed into his room. Almost immediately he ran to an electrolyte drink and downed it almost instantly, he didn't realize how thirsty he was 'Nearly dying would do that to you' he reasoned. Todd then got into a new set of clothes and packed all his things, he was ready to go home.
Meow*
He looked at the windowsill and saw a cat "Mega Catto?" he questioned, the cat jumped on the ground and rubbed against his leg, and meowed as if she was saying 'yes' Todd picked her up and held her softly. "you look smaller then I remember" he commented the cat let out a small growl "Hey I was kidding!".
A knock came from the door "Yo Glacier you up?" Stacy's voice asked
"Yeah, I'm up!"
"Good the van is here, get your stuff there in the next half hour!"
"Will do!"
He turned back to the cat "Look after everyone for me, please?" the cat gave a firm meow. the cat jumped out of Todd's grasp and jumped back on the windowsill "See ya buddy" the cat then leaped down. Todd then took all his stuff to the van and helped his team load everything in. The NZ Ice Breakers said their thank-yous and goodbyes to the Rodriguez family for allowing them to stay in their home for the night. The van was now ready to go they all filed in.
"Ahead of schedule," Craig said in surprise "Not the Ice Breakers I know!"
The driver looked at the team "You ready?" he asked
"Ready as we will ever be!" Todd said on behalf of the group.
The van then started up, as the van drove off Todd noticed Miguel and Dante behind it, quickly he stuck his head out the window and waved at them, Miguel saluted and Dante let out a bark. The van then turned a corner, Todd put his head back inside.
Craig spoke up "As the leader of the New Zealand Ice Breakers I declare this expedition over!"
The team cheered and exchanged high fives. Todd turned to the window 'I'm finally going home.'
Timeskip 06/11/16
The car drove through Todd's hometown on Cromwell, New Zealand on his way home after what felt like a lifetime. After enjoying the scenery for a little the car stopped in a driveway. The driver and Todd got out and got all his luggage from the boot. Todd thanked the driver and watched him drive off.
The front door opened and there stood his mother and sister, Todd dropped his bags and ran up to them and pulled them into a loving embrace, tears of joy streaming from his eyes. "What's wrong Todd?" his mother asked
"I missed you two..." He said through his tears.
His mother held him at arm's length and wiped his tears away "We missed you too, Trooper"
Todd let out a small laugh "It's been a while hasn't it?"
"You can say that again," Charlotte said patting Todd's back.
They all helped bring Todd's stuff inside "Damn MacLaren, how much stuff did you take?" Charlotte asked as she lugged one of Todd's bags inside
"Seriously? Take a look in the mirror when we go on vacation" Todd retorted
She just sighed "Touche MacLaren," she said as the door closed
"So Todd tell us about everything! we want to hear all about it!" his mother said behind the closed door
Todd let out a small laugh "You guys got all day?"
Achievement Unlocked: To Live or die in Mexico
PS: Todd represents me when I first watched that 'Remember Me' scene for the first time; I wanted to cry, but at the same time I wanted to pump my fist in the sky and scream: "He did it!"
One more chapter after this! See you all soon!