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Neon Moon
chapter twenty

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❛ when the world was ending,
we'd hold on to the past 'cause it's
all we thought we would ever see. ❜
— To Begin Again, Ingrid Michaelson
feat ZAYN

HER ARMS FELT LIKE HOME. It was strange to Kate. This woman who was once a hostage was now a friend. Her tears fell freely, staining her shirt, and sliding down her skin. "You did the right thing," Marisol whispered, her chin resting against the top of Kate's head. "You saved his life."

Her face screwed up as a hiccup ripped through her. "He's at peace with Mama," she said. "That's what he wanted." Marisol pressed a chaste kiss to the girl's head, smoothing down her hair. Freddie stood silently behind them. His eyes stayed down, his ears open for anything. Suddenly, his head snapped up and he looked behind them. "Maybe that's what God wanted," he blurted out.

Both Marisol and Kate glanced toward the ranger curiously. "I've had this feeling all day. Felt like that since the liquor store this morning, like... somebody's leading me down a path." Marisol sighed, continuing to smooth down Kate's hair absentmindedly. His head turned back behind them as a low rumbling sounded gently.

He motioned for the girls to walk. They needed to keep moving if they were going to make it out. The two girls pulled away from one another silently. "Carlos spelled it out for me," he continued. "He said I was part of a war that I could never escape..." He and Marisol glanced down the two sides, one lit and one bathed in darkness. "And that I'd pay the price."

          Kate eyed the ranger curiously. He frowned, confusion and irritation present on his tight features. "That I'd lose my wife and daughter." A sick feeling settled in the pit of Marisol's stomach. "And you'd believe that man before you'd believe your own heart?" Kate asked.

          The hope and the faith Kate possesses is admirable. Marisol wished she had been as strong as Kate when she was younger. Freddie's face softened. "I hope my Billy grows up to be like you," he admitted unashamedly. Marisol smiled. "Billy, huh?" she asked, leaning against the wall with a small smile.

          Freddie rolled his eyes. "What's wrong with Billy?" he inquired, readying himself for her teasing. But none came. She shook her head. "Billy's a perfect name," she exhaled. He snorted. He wouldn't say perfect, but it definitely fit his little angel. Marisol smiled to herself, pushing her hair from her face. When she looked back up, Gonzalez and Kate were gone. Confusion puckered between her brows as she spun around, Kate's name rolling off her tongue. But they weren't there. She was alone within those walls; something she had never wanted to be.

With panic budding in her heart like a spring flower, she traveled down the long hallway. Torches lit up the path all the way to a white, metal door. She began to jog, nervous breaths coming out in gasps. Her hand slammed against the cold metal, the other grasping the doorknob and twisting it, shoving the door away from her. It gave way to a porch, the light buzzing in the corner, and a man standing a few feet in front of her.

"Go back to bed, Marisol," the voice of her father sighed. He crushed another can of Modelo in his fist, letting the aluminum can clatter to the ground. She fell silent, eyes wide in surprise. "Did you hear me?" he asked, his tone growing more aggressively. "I said go back to bed." She gulped.

She felt sixteen again. She let the door close behind her, her eyes watering ever so slightly. Finally, he turned to face her. A long, red and puffy line carved against his face. He stared at her, hard and unforgiving. "Daddy," she whispered, her breath catching in her throat as he glared at her. It was full of poison and resentment, much like the last few days of his life. "You think you're grown? Huh?" She shook her head, a tear ripping over her cheek.

In the distance, she could see a pair of headlights approaching. Seth, her mind whispered. The knob in her throat grew ever so slightly with her anxiety. Her father turned back toward the tree line, toward the driveway, and toward the car approaching. Seth had always been begging for trouble. "Daddy, go inside," she pleaded with the old man. "I'll tell him to go home. I swear."

But he didn't budge. He watched as Seth pulled up to the house sporting a brand new shiner. He turned off the engine and slipped out of his car with grace. His eyes ignored the old man on the porch and landed straight on who he was needing to see. "Go home, son," her father warned. His tone was dark and threatening. Seth stopped right at the steps, meeting the old man's eyes with a broken gaze. "I can't," he replied. "Not right now."

          "You can't be here," argued her father. Marisol took a step toward the old man, fingers outstretched, when he whirled to face her. The barrel of a shotgun met her line of sight. "Daddy," she gasped, eyes growing wide. She didn't remember this night at all. He turned away from the woman and pointed his weapon at Seth. "You're no good for my little girl."

          Seth's eyes were sparkling. He stared up at her father, bottom lip trembling. Everyone else always had something to say about them. They're never going to last. They're no good for each other. He's going to knock her up if they're not careful.

          "I love your daughter," Seth said, his voice wavering slightly. "And she loves me. Nothing you say or do is going to change that." Her father took one step and pumped the shotgun in his grasp. Seth visibly flinched at the sound, his hands raised level with his head. "I said," her father continued, taking another step onto the top step, "go home."

Seth's hands moved to the back of his head, a shuddering breath inhaling through his nose. He nodded his head as his tongue ran over his chapped lips. "I have nowhere else to go," he said, breathless. He sniffed. He felt nervous, tired, and upset. He was breaking down in front of him. Seth never broke down in front of anyone but Marisol. Her hands pressed to her mouth, brows fallen over her eyes. "I'm sorry," her father sighed. "But you can't stay here."

Seth's eyes cut toward Marisol. She took a step forward, tears staining her cheeks. "I don't want to have to use this thing, boy." He ducked his head just in time to hide his tears. Silently, he moved back to the driver's side door and yanked it open. He didn't cast another glance her way as he climbed into his car and started his engine.

"Why did you do that?!" she cried, grabbing ahold of her father's arm. She shook him, her tears pelting over her face at rapid speed. "Tell me!" she demanded. "Why did you do that?!" Seth's car began to pull away. He was hardly visible through his windshield, the light from the porch casting a glare against the dirtied glass. She wanted to run after him. She wanted to jump over those few steps and stop him.

The headlights blinded her for a moment and she tried to blink against it. But when she opened her eyes, she was back in those tunnels. Kate and Gonzalez were with her once more. "Marisol," Kate spoke gently, taking the woman's arm in her hand. Her head snapped toward the young girl. "Yeah?" she croaked out, scanning the room.

"You see somethin', too?" Freddie asked. She nodded her head, her chest aching. "Yeah," she exhaled. "Can we go now?" Freddie and Kate both nodded their heads. "Yeah," Kate said. "Yeah, let's go."

═══════ ❃ ═══════

          "I guess this is where we part," Marisol said. She turned to face Kate, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. The teenager sighed, her shoulders sagging forward. "You could come with me," she suggested. "We could get out of here together."

          "I can't go back," she sighed. Marisol smiled sadly, taking Kate's face between her hands. "We don't have to go back," Kate argued, her voice breaking. "We can... travel. We don't have to go back anywhere." Her face muscles began to tremble, her eyes wet and burning.

          Marisol pulled the girl into her arms, ignoring the painful pricking behind her own eyes. Their embrace was tight, like the hug of a python. "You'll be okay," Marisol whispered, pressing her cheek to the girl's head. "You are so strong, Kate. And God has a plan for you. You'll be okay."

And she truly believed that. Kate nuzzled her face into Marisol's hair, biting down hard on her trembling bottom lip. Her hands clutched the woman tight, not wanting to let go. For if she did, she knew that she would be completely and utterly alone. She's lost so much. Her mother, her brother, and now her father. How was she supposed to navigate through life on her own?

Marisol unwrapped her arms from the girl. She took her face once more and cleaned her neck to meet her eyes. "Do you trust me?" she asked suddenly. Kate nodded her head, a furrow pinching between her brows. "Of course," the dark haired girl replied with zero hesitance. Marisol ran her thumb along her bloodied cheek to catch the falling tears. A small smile crawled across her face. "Then trust me when I say that you've got this."

The loud banging of the building's doors tore the two from their moment. Seth's voice filled the room with venom, but it only made Marisol's heart race forward. Kate watched the light fill her eyes and the love that dazzled and danced across her features. She couldn't ask Marisol to leave him and come with her. Not this time. Not now. With a sad exhale, Kate unwrapped herself from the warm embrace. "Good luck, Marisol," she spoke gently. "Thank you for everything."

She turned toward the ranger, who nodded in understanding. Their plan was a go. "See you in a bit, kid," he told her and she nodded, turning away and exiting the building through a different way. Freddie turned toward Marisol, a scowl prominent on his face.

          "You know, I may have been wrong about you," Marisol stated, crossing her arms over her chest. He snorted. "Care to elaborate?" Her grin broadened at his teasing lilt. She shook her head, nose scrunching up. "I don't think I will," she replied, a light laugh being shared between the two. Her head turned back toward the ruckus in the main room. "Ready?" she asked.

          He nodded silently. Just beyond that wall was her family (and a blood sucking demon, but she's going to ignore that fact). Excitement bubbled within her. She pushed past the curtains, her eyes landing on the three conversing. Seth held a cloth to his neck. Richie didn't have his glasses on, but his eyes met hers. Surprise etched its way onto his features.

          Before her nickname could jump from his tongue, an obsidian blade penetrated his shoulder. Freddie pushed past the woman, stake in hand, and pressed Richie into the counter. "Back up," he hissed out toward the culebra. Marisol stood frozen in her spot. "Told you it was gonna be a long day."

          Seth's head turned, worry prominent in his warm eyes. It didn't take long for his eyes to land on Marisol. The moment their eyes met, she ran to him. She ran into his open arms, their bodies colliding with enough force that he should have been knocked over. "You're here," he whispered, hands tangling within her hair, mouth searching for hers. "I'm here," she replied, closing the distance and pressing her lips to his.

Their breaths mingled as their teeth clashed, their lips fiercely molding together to make the perfect masterpiece. One hand held the back of her head, fingers twisted within tangled locks and the baby hair at the base of her skull. She winced at the pressure of his fingers, but didn't make a point to move away.

That need — that craving — filled their veins like the taste of alcohol. It fogged up their brains and made them lose track of everything around them. Their hearts synchronized, tongues dancing a sinful tango, tears falling in bliss. Seth was there. He was alive, and she was alive. They were together again.

Richie's groan tore the two apart. Their heads spun back toward the ranger holding him at stake point. "You're gonna pay for the trail of bodies you left behind today, going all the way back to Earl," Freddie stated. Seth looked between his brother and the stake pressed way too close to his chest. He took a slight step forward, only to stop with the ranger's threat. "Step back, or I'll put a stake through his goddamn heart."

          "Kill him," Santanico pressed. Disbelief carved across Seth's face. His distaste for the goddess hadn't changed, Marisol had noticed. "What, are you nuts?" he asked the snake. She didn't spare him a glance. "Why are you hesitating, Rinche? Kill him."

          "Gonzalez," Marisol called out to him. He turned toward the brunette wrapped up in Seth Gecko's arms. He knew she couldn't understand. Hell, she knew it, too. But a part of her hoped he'd listen. "That's what your bloodline is begging you to do, and yet you can't do it," Santanico continued.

          "Why?" she pressed. Richie cocked a grin, his breathing stuttering. "Maybe he doesn't have the stones," he suggested. Marisol rolled her eyes at his response. "Maybe you just don't want to pay the price, do you? You want to save your family from what's coming? Margaret? Billy?"

          "Alright," Marisol spoke up, spinning around to face the other woman. "You don't get to talk about Billy." Gonzalez looked over his shoulder, jaw tense. Seth kept a firm hold on Marisol's waist. "You're making a big mistake, Ranger," he said.

Freddie turned back to Richie, his jaw tense. He pressed the stake deeper into his skin, the point barely breaking skin. He panted angrily, stone cold eyes locked with Richie's. "Think about Billy," Marisol said. "A little girl needs her father, Gonzalez."

"Alright," he hissed. The pressure vanished from Richie's chest, but he kept a firm hand at the blade embedded in his shoulder. "Alright, this is what's gonna happen." Richie's eyes narrowed at the man suddenly making demands. Just like a fugitive, he thought. "I'm gonna drop this stake and I'm gonna walk out of here, and none of you freaks better come after me or my family, ever, or so help me God, I will find you and I will rip your hearts out with my bare hands."

Seth's grip on her waist tightened. He shuffled closer, protectively. "You have my word," Santanico promised in a hiss. Seth scoffed. "Vaya con dios," Seth replied, earning an elbow to his gut. He doubled over slightly, his chest meeting Marisol's shoulder. Freddie didn't wait for her answer. He already knew. He turned back to Richie, watching him expectantly. "I'm cool if you're cool," the freshly turned culebra said through tired pants.

Freddie stayed there for a moment, trying to control his breathing. After, he made one last demand: "Give me the keys to the R.V." Marisol felt Seth shift behind her, reaching into his pocket for the keychain. They clinked together as he withdrew them, and when he tossed them to the ranger. Freddie caught them with ease.

Finally, he pulled away. His tense figure relaxed, the blunt end of the stake tapping against the handle of the blade digging inside of Richie's flesh. Richie winced. "You can keep that," he said, the corner of his mouth tugging into a smirk. He kept his eyes on the trio as he backed toward the door. "Que Dios esté contigo," Marisol called after him. He nodded to her. "Buena suerte, oficial. Lo necesitarás."

He left through the front doors, closing them tight behind him. Once he was gone, she was spun back toward Seth and pulled into a tight hug. "You made it," he exhaled, his breath hot against her head. She grinned, hands wrapping firmly into his suit jacket. She pressed her face into his neck, inhaling the scent of him. "So did you," she whispered.

Richie hissed as he withdrew the blade, blood seeping through his white shirt. Marisol glanced toward the younger man. "You made it, too," she said, smiling over at Richie. "It's nice to see you, Rich. Even under the circumstances."

"I'm not going to eat you, if you're worried about that," he blurted out, wiping the blood away from the knife onto his slacks. She grimaced. "Seth would kill me." A scoff left her throat. Seth glared at his brother over her head. He wasn't going to deny it. If Richie ever laid a hand on her, he'd cut it off. "I'm still debating whether I should kill you anyway or not."

A groan fell past his lips as her fist met his bruised side. His arms loosened around her enough for her to wiggle free. "Don't joke like that," she warned him. "That's our brother." His hands rested on her shoulders, fingers digging into the skin. He wasn't used to her being so strong. He'll have to watch himself. "Okay," he sighed, his head shaking. "Okay, Jesus."

She almost felt a little bad for punching him, but seeing the smile on Richie's face changed her mind. They were back together again. Granted, it was a lot different now. They weren't kids anymore, and Richie's apart of the undead army. But they were together, and that's all that matters.

Slowly, that happiness began to drift away. The dancers from before entered the room, surrounding them. She grasped Seth's hand, worry flooding her features. Santanico, like a leader, stepped up onto the stage. The girls began to chant in a foreign language, the stone beneath their feet rumbling. It sounded as if the temple was groaning in pain.

"What's happening?" Marisol whispered toward Seth, fearful eyes meeting his confused ones. His thumb ran over her knuckles. "I don't know," he answered truthfully. What was this? Some kind of ritual? Was this what he and his brother had fought for? For her freedom?

Richie stepped up onto the stage, his eyes lowered toward the goddess. Seth instinctively pulled Marisol closer to his side, his grip on her hand tightening. Gently, Richie took hold of Santanico's neck, moving her hair to the side. Scales rippled across the skin of his face, his eyes turning yellow with slitted pupils. Marisol grimaced.

          Just as she thought he would bite her, a snake slithered past his lips. It was thick and pale. It's mouth opened with a hiss before its fangs latched onto her skin. A surprised gasp ripped out of her throat. Marisol had seen many fucked up things, but this one took the cake for most fucked up. Seth shuddered beside her, bile tickling the back of his throat like a feather.

          As Richie advanced on Santanico, the earth beneath their feet began to tremble. Dust floated down from the ceilings. Lamps and candles wavered. Seth's arm wrapped tight around Marisol's waist, her back meeting his chest. The chanting grew louder and louder, the dancers raising their arms to the sky.

Glasses began to break. "Seth," Marisol called out, her voice hard to hear over the chanting. Seth's hand splayed against her stomach, keeping her close. Slowly, a crack began to form in a block of stone. Light filtered in through the sliver and dust. "I'm right here," Seth reminded her.

Sunlight poured into the building through grates in the walls. The dancers began to cry out as pins of light burned their flesh. The crack in the wall grew as the stones moved away, letting in the rising sun. The screams began to grow too loud, ringing in her ears. Marisol's hands moved to cover them, her brows pinched in disbelief. They all turned to dust, one by one, before her very eyes and their screams faded into nothingness.

Richie unlatched from Santanico, the snake gone and his scales disappearing. "Well, if that don't get me religion, I don't know what will," Seth exhaled sarcastically. His hand gently patted her stomach before he let it rest at her hip. She nudged him and let her hands slide away from her ears. "It's not funny, Seth," she sighed. Richie rolled his eyes at the two.

Light flooded the room like a beacon. Smooth rays stood out before them, beckoning them forward. It felt like forever ago since she's felt the sun on her face. Richie stretched out his hand and let the sun rays beat down against his skin, a tendril of smoke slithering from the burning flesh. Santanico hurriedly pulled his hand away. "You can't walk in the sun," she said. "Not yet."

Something in Richie changed. His eyes met hers for a moment before cutting them toward his older brother. "You said you were always just trying to save me, Seth," he said. "You did." She sucked in a breath, turning away from the youngest Gecko. "Now you have to let me go."

Seth shook his head, pulling away from Marisol to approach his brother. He scoffed. "Buddy, we just pulled it off out there," he replied. "There's no reason we can't— we can't keep putting down scores." Marisol's brows frowned. Had that been his plan all along? Keep stealing? Keep killing? "It's not just about the score," Richie argued.

"It's always about the score," Seth stated matter-of-factly.

"Nah. If it was, you would have just taken the money," Richie said.

"The money?" Marisol echoed in disbelief. "Are you really worried about money right now?" Seth shook his head. No, he thought. I'm not worried about money. Santanico leaned in real close to Richie, whispering something in his ear that Marisol couldn't pick up. "If you, uh... You ever find that beach and blue agave, you let me know."

Seth took a step away from his brother, his hand blindly moving for Marisol's. "Maybe I'll come join you," Richie said, his face contorting into a sad, contentedness. Marisol recognized that look. "Don't bother," Seth replied, his tone breathless. His fingers locked together with Marisol's and he tugged her to follow him.

"Richie," she called out to the younger Gecko, tears filling her tone. His eyes slipped back toward Marisol, the first girl he had ever loved. He watched as the one person who believed in him slipped away, tears in her eyes, and love in her heart. "Don't die, okay?" He nodded, though he couldn't promise it. "Love you, little brother."

Seth sighed, shoving open the entrance doors with a painful grunt. Marisol followed after him, watching as the doors closed between them and Richard Gecko. The air outside was fresh. The sun felt like a newfound paradise, beating down on them unapologetically. She stopped to turn toward the desert, taking in the scenery she had missed from before.

Seth took a few steps down before noticing her lack of presence. He turned toward her, peering up at her curiously. "We're out," she stated. In the light, her bruises looked even more prominent. The torn skin of her lip was red. Seth sighed, resting his hands against his hips. "That we are," he replied, a smile cracking across his face. "To starting over, right?"

She nodded, smiling down at the Gecko brother. She climbed down a few steps until she stood right before him, towering over him. Her arms instinctively circled his neck, fingers tangling in his hair. "To starting over," she whispered before pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. He chuckled, one arm wrapping firmly around her back while the other moved under her knees. In one fluid motion, he had her bridal style, a gleeful squeal singing through the air.

rumi says . . .
holy shit act one is over. i feel so sad
but so relieved at the same time. :')

this chapter was so long. the ritual
was so hard to write bc i couldn't find
what santanico and the dancers were chanting
anywhere, so i had to improvise.

but aye, aren't they adorable? marikate
saying goodbye killed me. honestly, most
heartbreaking scene i ever had to write.

how was the chapter?
what was your favorite part?

i hope you guys enjoyed it!
feedback is seriously appreciated!