The InBetween

Ten Familial Unfamiliar People (Miguel's POV)

Miguel walked out of the wall clutching his stomach, completely in a daze. The screams and gunshots replayed in his ears over and over. The image of Rocco with the g*n pointed at him and friends stuck itself to his brain. He even remembered the sharp pain of the bullet entering him, the wound so hot smoke danced out. Then the cold and helpless feeling of his body shutting down, as he closed his eyes and heard the six rounds that went in the water.

He was so overwhelmed and distraught he didn't even notice Life shaking him by the shoulders. "Snap out of it!" He yelled "Dwelling on that memory won't help you enjoy the afterlife."

He managed to force his eyes to look into Life's vibrant gold ones. He nodded "Right. Thanks."

Connie walked out of her corner moments later, looking nobody in the eye as she darted out. Gabriel, Destiny and Life called for her but she just kept going until she was out the door. That's when it clicked with Miguel. The girl talking at class, the girl at the river. It was both her. "Excuse me." Was all he could muster as he chased after her.

"Connie!" Miguel shouted to her. The girl ignored him, sprinting down the royal hall. He gave chase, desperate to catch her. The girl was fast though, if they had finished that race up the steps she definitely would've beat him. But that was something the boy was never going to say out loud. Soon they were outside the castle. Connie had just grabbed her shoes back from the guard and was already about to start running again when Miguel grabbed her wrist.

"Lemme go!" Connie screamed and pulled her hand away. She shoved Miguel back and turned to leave again. "I'm sorry!" was all Miguel could let out. Connie stopped in her tracks, but didn't turn back to face him. Miguel carried on "I'm so sorry. But now, we have the information right? It's just up to Destiny, Gabriel and Life to help save them!"

Connie faced him with an "Are you out of your mind?" Look before asking "Save who? Your friends?"

"Our friends!" Miguel corrected.

Connie scoffed bitterly "OUR friends? Since when? They're YOUR friends. And they're MY murderers."

Miguel desperately wanted to cut her off but this was just not the time for interrupting.

"Y'know, I've ALWAYS had a gut feeling you and your entourage played a part in me getting stuck here. ALWAYS. I should've known from the minute Destiny told us we were dead that you had something to do with it. But then you seemed cool and interesting. A big heart who cared about his missing buddies. But as it turns out, that's ALL you care about. You and your stupid friends that I'm not even surprised are in hell. Y'know why? Because they KILLED me, Miguel. YOU killed me! Not that I had much to live for, but any salvation I might've had got blown away when your dumb group C roped me into your violent game of laser tag! I was having the worst day of my life, again, partially thanks to you, but then you HAD to jump in and make my life worse by literally TAKING it from me! How could you?! Now the things I've said, the things I did...I'll never be able to take them back because of you and you're- you're-"

Connie couldn't hold it together anymore. She sobbed, right there in front of Miguel. Red face and all. All Miguel could do was watch as the girl had a complete breakdown in front of him. He felt bad before, but oh lord, he couldn't describe the physical pain of seeing Connie - someone he didn't even know that well - in this kind of emotional state, in the center of a perfect utopia. All because of him, too. 

Thankfully, Gabriel, Destiny and Life emerged from the castle moments later. Destiny picked Connie up in her arms and took her away, saying "I know a place that'll cheer you up."

Miguel watched the angel fly away with the girl, her sobs still ringing in his ears. Gabriel rubbed Miguel's shoulder "You shouldn't have to feel the weight and burden of another's demise in a place like this."

"But it's my fault." Miguel whispered.

"No, child. It's the shadow imps. They possessed your peer. The one you call 'Rocco'."

"Yeah, you're right." Miguel wasn't lying. He knew Gabriel was right and he had every intention of blaming the shadow-imps. But he still couldn't help but feel responsible. Maybe if he just led Rocco to the estate instead of the river. Maybe if he didn't have the dumb idea of trying to impress Logan for a party. Maybe if just went home afterschool instead of doing this whole scheme...

"Even if you picked alternates..." Gabriel was reading his mind, that fact scared Miguel, but what else could it be? "The shadow-imps would find a way to kill you. There was no escape. I'm so sorry."

"So what now?" Miguel asked. He was never going to see his family, friends, Connie, the woods, his school, ever again. And with that much gone, heaven seemed like a real bore. All he had to look forward to now was being nine years old forever and being bulletproof. Which was also boring without friends.

"C'mon," Gabriel bent down for the boy to climb on his back "When you reached the steps you were excited to see them right?"

"See who?" the kid asked, though he did remember the rush of excitement.

"Let's see." the angel smiled and gently lifted off the ground, soaring in the opposite direction of Connie and Destiny. Life was on the ground and waved to them "So I'll just be - here, I guess. Later!"

The boy was taken to a totally different part of heaven, one that looked so annoyingly familiar but he couldn't place where. It was a nice backyard to a condo with a pool and barbeque. Twelve people were there, laughing and playing instruments as they sang Spanish songs that Miguel could swear were once a lullaby for him. Gabriel called to them to get their attention. They looked over and smiled wide at the new party member- which was apparently Miguel.

He never met these people in his life. But their faces, their smiles...it all looked familiar. Like Miguel had seen some faced in a photo album when he was a toddler. Ugh, even after the amnesia was fixed his brain still racked up empty when it came to remembering things. An old man with grey sideburns walked up to the boy. He wore a pink cardigan that Miguel saw in his mama's old stuff before. He spread him arms wide for the boy, like he was expecting a hug "Miguel Forrezzo, my great grandson, welcome home!"

Miguel felt a wave of emotions wash over him, mostly good. He ran in and hugged his great-grandpops as everyone else watched with pride and joy. "Is it really you?" Miguel asked, even though he never met this man in his life.

"Yes Miguel it's me. We felt your presence the moment you took your first steps on the stairs." 

A woman with grey curls and a floral dress came up and ruffled the child's hair "We certainly expect a new member this...soon. But it's a pleasure to have you here."

It all clicked in that moment. These are long passed relatives. Family that Miguel got the misfortune of never meeting in life. But now they were all here, together at this cookout, eagerly waiting for the next member to join. They just weren't expecting one this young, and Miguel could understand that. Gabriel spread his wings and gave Miguel one last wave "Enjoy your afterlife kid. Hope to run into you soon." The family gave the angel a synchronized send off wave before celebrating their latest member.

Time flew by like a dove as they ate, laughed, sang and told embarrassing stories of their lives. Like how Miguel's great aunt once wore a bunny jumpsuit to school during picture day, thinking it was free-dress. Or how Miguel's uncle destroyed the hotel bathroom after a taco night out with his workmates. Miguel didn't think he'd ever feel perfect in heaven after everything with Connie earlier, but as the sunset dimmed on the group, he had a feeling everything was going to be just fine. Thoughts of Jacob and Tyrone came and went every now and again but all he could do was hold his loved ones close and be thankful it wasn't him

As time went away, great grandpop took Miguel inside the condo to have a one-one chat. The man was vibrant and the life of the party until now. At this moment he seemed more serious and slightly intense. "Miguel..." He said with his low, oddly relaxing voice

"Yes great-grandpapa?"

"I must say Miguel I'm surprised how you got here."

"I told you all how it happened."

"Yes I know, but it still shocks me. If anyone was to go next, I assumed it would be Mari-Posa."

Miguel's eyed widened "What made you think my mother was going to die? Carlos is taking care of her."

"Nobody can afford to take care of her with her current condition." he sighed, leaning back "We can all see her. You tried, you really did. You and Carlos. Such a brave pair, the both of you."

Miguel was reminded of when he promised his mama he's come home to take care of her all weekend...

"How can you see her?" He asked.

"A little area one of us will go to every now and again, just so we can check up on the living ones." he explained.

"Show me." Miguel said.

"It's quite a walk." the old man smirked, "Can you handle it?"

"I'm dead now, great pops, I don't get tired." Miguel announced confidently while struggling to move from his warm, soft, comfortable armchair. He yawned, and realized he's been bested.

"Go to sleep, we'll discuss this in the morning." Great-Pops planted a kiss on the boys forehead as he snored. Miguel dreamt of random moments of his life. Like when he was five and wanted to be possessed for Halloween, so when the dark night came he put glow-in-the dark paint on his eyes so he looked more haunted. A month in the hospital was totally worth the screams of Tyrone and Jacob, though.

Huh. Tyrone and Jacob. It'd been a while since he's actually seen their faces come to think of it...