A/N: I know I know. I'm a horrible human being for taking so long to update. I will be completely honest. I kinda lost motivation for a moment there. But then I went to Mexico again for Christmas break and now I love Coco all over again. Yay! I started another story in my account but don't think that I'm abandoning this one. I still have my ideas for this one and I'm actually planning on making it a three-part series with the next two being crossovers. I just gotta stay motivated so make sure to review!

Chapter 7: Crossing Over

After Miguel had swept up the broken bits of pottery into a nearby dustpan, he'd run up to his room in search of his guitar and quickly came back down with it fastened around his chest. He had also put on a red sweater reminiscent of the one he'd worn the first time he crossed over. His whole outfit, in fact, seemed like a flash to the past for Hector and filled the older skeleton with happiness and pride.

"Okay I'm ready to go," he finally said once he came up to us.

"You sure your family will be okay with this, chamaco?" Hector asks.

Miguel's face turns into that face he'd once given me in the Land of the Dead when Hector had asked the boy if he had any other family. In other words, the face of a nervous liar.

"Yeah, they'll be fine."

And with that, the fourteen-year-old boy walks out through the gate like-door that led to the pebbled street outside, the white guitar on his back. From a crevice in the street, Dante, Miguel's own loyal spirit guide, follows the boy happily.

Hector looks at Imelda for any signs of anger and any change in her decision to allow the boy back. The woman has the same worrying glance about her, her body showing all the signs of restraint. But Hector doesn't think about it too much, instead opting for how amazing it would be to show Miguel all the wonder his new way of life (death?) in the Land of the Dead had brought.

"Well, I guess we should follow," I say, not allowing Imelda to double think her decision. The woman and the rest of the Riveras follow. Then, they realized they were once again going to spend Day of the Dead in the Land of the Dead.

The Santa Cecilia cemetery was covered in an orange glow. There were marigolds glittered about everywhere, covering the dirty, old tombstones. There were people with different clothes ranging from traditional to cheap t-shirts and they carried colorful and undoubtedly delicious food for the souls of their dearly beloved. The warm, orange glow came about mostly due to all of the Dead walking around on the spiritual plane. Their translucent skeletal bodies shined with the color of the flowers that littered the grass. And there were so many of them.

"Woah… There must be twice as many spirits here this year than when I first got cursed," Miguel says as the group walks around the cemetery, having to weave through throngs of people more often than usual.

To any other person, Miguel was walking alone in a cemetery with only his dog Dante by his side but the Dead could see the big family following the young boy like sheep.

"Well that may be because of how famous we made Santa Cecilia," Tia Victoria says from the back.

Imelda scoffs at the comment as Hector nervously laughs. Neither of them necessarily liked the fame.

Miguel passes several graves and their families. Once he stops in front of Ernesto's

Gravesite, he looks up to the statue of the ex-musician. The whole thing had grown old and full of cobwebs. No person cared for it anymore. The inside was most were the musician's bones lay was probably just as empty, dark and unwelcoming.

"I feel kinda stupid now for having liked that guy," Miguel says, more in hate at himself and his mistake then at the dead musician.

"Well, you didn't know about what he had done. Not even I did," Hector comforts. Miguel turns to look at the older skeleton, his eyes downcast in guilt. Hector didn't seem to understand why that emotion was brewing in the young boys eyes. All Hector ever felt when he thought of Ernesto was hate. But maybe the older skeleton should understand that the young boy had been as betrayed as he was. Hector was betrayed by a friend, Miguel by an idol.

"So, where's the bridge?" Miguel asks, changing the subject.

"It's still in the same place as before, chamaco," Hector answers with a small chuckle as if it was ridiculous that Miguel had forgotten where to look. The boy then turns away from Ernesto's grave site. Then in a complete change in pace, the young boy jumped in excitement as he looked to his skeleton family.

"Well then what are we waiting for? ¡Vamanos!" Miguel says happily. And with that, the boy begins a slow run towards the bridge. Hector watches the boy go in wonder when he and the rest of the Rivera family notice the petals below his feet begin to glow and move towards him. They were glowing as if the boy was already on the Bridge. Hector and Imelda have curiosity dawn on their faces, but that curiosity reflected fear as well. Just what was happening to their great-great-grandchild.

Miguel doesn't seem to notice the flower petals move or the way they shine, so the Rivera's decide to shrug it off. However, Hector and Imelda file it away in their minds to look into and ask the boy about later on. The rest of the family follow behind Miguel but Hector stops in his tracks when he hears a thump, like the drop of rock from behind him. The skeleton stares curiously at Ernesto's grave behind him. All there was was darkness and after another second of suspicion, Hector moves on, leaving his murderers gravesite in complete abandon and darkness.

In the shadows of the gravesite, a broken skull, hidden under a hooded cloak, peeks out from the back. He stared at the receding figures of the Rivers family as they neared the Marigold Bridge that would lead them into the other world. His eyes were focused and squinted in an indescribable type of loathing for the people he was spying on.

Then the man looks down to his feet, drawn by the sensation of something rubbing against his ankles and weaving itself through his legs.

Meow…

The cat raises its head in purring content and it's eerily, bright green eyes gaze straight into the skeleton's non-existent soul. The man knew what the feline's presence meant.

"They almost spotted you," a silky, feminine voice says from behind him.

He turns to acknowledge the woman, however, he did little to hide his contempt at her presence. He doesn't care much when he realizes she had hidden in the shadows, only a faint glow of red and orange could be seen, most likely coming from her clothes and her body.

"I dropped one rock," the man says, clearly irritated, "I don't think that will warrant their suspicion."

"I thought you would be the one to know not to underestimate that family," she answers.

The man glares at her from under his hood, his cracked eye socket clearly shown to the woman.

"Just don't be so careless again," she says, interrupting any retort the man could give, "The success of your mission is what truly matters at this time."

The man turns away from the shadows no longer wanting to look into the darkness for her form. The cat at his feet had long since wandered into the shadows in search of its master.

"I don't understand why you want me to do this," the skeleton man says.

"You don't need to understand. You just need to do it."

"But becoming friends with them? It will never work. Especially for me."

"That is why it's so important that it does work. Especially if it is you."

The man hidden under the cloak swerves around, his eyes staring intensely into the darkness that housed the silky, smooth voice of a power he knew he shouldn't be working with.

"What are you after?" he says, not expecting a response from the cryptic woman.

"Does it matter? All that should matter to you is that if, and once, you succeed, you will be given a second chance at life. Revival and retribution."

The man remains silent.

"Luna will watch your mission," at her words, the black cat steps out into the lighter shadows which the man inhabits, "You may call upon her when you need her but she will mostly be there to make sure you don't mess up."

"Qué bien," the man says sarcastically.

"With another life for you at stake I don't believe you will fail," she assures and the man lifts his head to where he believes the mysterious woman is, "Or will you, Ernesto?"

He raises his head high, the hood falling off, revealing his disheveled dark hair and still porcelain white bone. However, he was marred with a permanent series of cracks that traveled his skull like webs.

"No," Ernesto begins, "I will not fail. I will once again lead Hector Rivera to his death."

A/N: Oops! Done already? Damn, that was too short. But I wanted to end the chapter on a cliffhanger. Who is the woman in the shadows? What is she after? And why is our poor Hector being targeted? So many questions! But hold your horse's folks because I am inspired and I swear I will continue this story no matter what it takes. Please give me more motivation by reviewing. I absolutely love reading all your theories and ideas. Sometimes they shape the story.