The VPA: Maria's Backstory

Prologue

He was not alone. The monotone screen whispered its deceitfully sweet song to his ears. Shutting it off to the background the man continued to clean his gun. It was a simple rifle with a jet black exterior. His resolve was as strong as his weapon. Still, he had to constantly assure himself that he would succeed. He wouldn't. A knock at the door broke the screen's sweet song. The man, paranoid, immediately assumed the worst. He reached for a handgun on the dresser beside his bed and carefully approached the door. Krash! The door shot its way across the dirty motel room. His ears began to ring but, before he could pull himself together his neck was met with a metal grip. Gasping for air he struggled to fight the being that was opposing him. He was at the mercy of what looked like a man but was far beyond any that he had known. He tried to escape the beings metal grip until he saw a second being just like the other enter the room. it held in its hands a man just as frightened and as shocked as him. He just like himself was struggling to escape his captor and they both knew that they couldn't. The first being picked up the man's gun and handed it to the second. Placing the weapon into the second man's hand you could almost feel how thrilled the thing was. The being lowered the first man to the ground forcing him to his knees. He still couldn't fight back. Pointing the gun at the first man, the newcomer was forced by the other being to pull the trigger. The first shot was followed by another. Both of the men share the same fate.
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The loud silence overwhelmed the alleyway. Broken by the sound of Fernando's money crinkling together. One wrong move and they would be spotted. Somehow God's mercy was upon them. Not a soul came into the alleyway except for these two. As the man counted the money he clasped a cheap plastic bottle into Fernando's hands. Fernando and his mysterious friend parted ways, refusing to look back at the other.
Ferenado continued his way to his destination. Walking up a pair of stairs he kicked a toy across the porch of a house. Reaching for the door he made sure his hand was in his pocket. Bang! Bang! Bang! The door groaned signaling Fernando's presence. He heard small and light footsteps run to the door in foolish excitement. A young girl opened the door and Fernando quickly took his hand out of his pocket.
"I'm home," Fernando said, showing off a piece of small candy. The girl, ignoring the candy, immediately hugged her father.
"Where were you daddy?" the girl asked while eating the candy. Continuing to the kitchen he opened a few cabinets looking for some food. Shaking different boxes that were nearly empty there was no way he would be eating here. Taking a small moment to think he made his way back to the front porch.
"Where are we going daddy?" the girl questioned as she was being buckled up
He took a moment to think. Where were they going? Seeing the confusion on his daughter's face he came up with a quick and easy solution.
"We, are going to get some burgers!" he yelled out in a thrilled voice
"But, I like the nuggets."
"You know we never get the nuggets."
"Uncle got them for me that one time, remember?"
"He did but, I'm not uncle am I?"
"Come on dad!"
"Do you want a burger or not?"
"Yes dad"
He closed the door and sat down in the driver's seat searching the car for any amount of money he could find. Luckily, he found a handful of money that he had forgotten about. Starting up the car he would drive him and his daughter to the fast food restaurant near their house. As they got there he could hear his daughter's excitement. Singing songs she heard on the tv and acting like the princesses and heroes her tv spoke to her about. He of course played along with his daughter. Singing along with his daughter or acting like the villain. Always making sure to keep his eyes on the road. Once they arrived, his daughter yelled at her father begging him to get her the kids meal. Looking at the money he had in his hand he came up with a compromise.
"You're a big girl now maria." Fernando said in a playful tone
"But, I want a kids meal daddy!" Maria groaned
"But, big girls eat the adult meal and I thought you were a big girl now." Fernando said
The girl took some time to consider her fathers argument. After a minute or two she came to her eventual conclusion
"Yeah, I am a big girl and I want to eat the adult meal just like you!" the girl yelled out in excitement.
Making their order and driving back home. Fernando felt at peace knowing his daughter could eat another day. He watched the gray apartment complexes as he drove by and the restaurants and stores with their dimming fluorescent lights. All were decorated with plastic and paper wrappers. Dirt and trash running around, blown by the wind. He could see people walking around and homeless men and women begging them knowing that they were only a step away from their position.
Finally after the long drive Maria fell asleep. Unbuckling her so carefully as to not awake her he held her on his chest with her head resting on his shoulder. The daughter mumbled to herself and almost woke up with her father comforting her back to sleep. He unlocked the door and made his way to his bed. Lying his daughter down and putting pillows on the end of the bed he joined her and got ready to sleep. Almost having forgotten he stirred his daughter up from her sleep pulling out a substance in a cheap plastic bottle.
"You need to take your medicine sweetie" he whispered to his daughter
"Do I have to?" his daughter asked still half asleep
"You have to sweetie, we've been over this." he asked her while rubbing her head.
His daughter looked him in the eyes, saddened by the fact that she had to take her daily medicine. Her father guiltily reached into his pocket muttering to himself about how he's spoiling her by grabbing a piece of candy.
"I'll make you a deal then swee-" he tried to say
"Deal!" his daughter said, snatching the candy and medicine out of his hand. Taking the medicine and finishing the candy her father knew that he'd have to stay up with her now. An hour later the two finally went to sleep.
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