Hecho desaparecer

Chapter 2:A Job at the Botanica Spa

Marimen and the girl headed towards the Botanica Spa, a apartment building with sugar skulls hanging from it.

"What about my Dad and Mom?" asked Marimen. "They didn't really turn into pigs, did they?"

"You can't see them now, but you will later," said the girl.

A strange-looking balloon floated overhead. It had the face of an old man with an evil grin, and a banner above it said, "I Eat Kids."

"Quiet!" said the girl. "It's looking for you. Let's run!"

Marimen made an effort, then said, "I can't stand! What can I do? My legs don't work."

The girl said, "Calm down. Take a deep breath."

She raised a hand and intoned a spell. "In the name of the wind and the water within thee... Unbind her!"

Marimen felt a tingling in her legs.

"Get up!" said the boy.

Mabel found she was able to move again. They got closer to the store, where strange creatures were streaming in.

"Hold your breath while we cross the parking lot," said the girl. "Even a tiny breath will break the spell, and the attendants will see you."

"I'm scared," said Marimen.

"Be calm!" he told her. "Let's go. A deep breath... And hold..."

They walked across the parking lot, keeping close together.

"Welcome back, Coco!" called one attendant, a skeleton with a big hat.

"We missed you!" said another skeleton.

"I'm back from my task," said Coco, and under her breath she told Marimen, "Hang on, we're almost..."

Suddenly a big yellow-eyed frog jumped in front of them. "Hey, Coco!"

"Wha...?" said Marimen, startled into taking a breath.

"A human?" said one of the skeletons, suddenly able to see her.

"Run!" said Coco.

Marimen ran inside to look for somewhere to hide. She ran through a gift shop, through a door marked "Employees only," and ducked behind a yellow armchair with a Lady of Guadalupe statue beside it, just as a horde of skeletons came charging through the room, shouting to each other about catching the human intruder.

Coco followed them, and spotted Marimen. She ducked down beside her.

I'm sorry I took a breath," said Marimen.

"No, you did very well," said Coco. "Listen and I'll tell you what to do. I you stay here, they'll find you. I'll distract them,"

"No, don't go!" said Marimen. "Stay with me!"

"You have no choice, if you want to survive here, and save your parents, too."

"So they did turn into pigs... I wasn't dreaming..."

"Listen. When things quiet down, open the secret door behind the vending machine in the gift shop. Here, I've written the code for you on a scrap of paper. Take the stairs down to the elevator. Take it down to the boiler room, where they stoke the fires for the baths. Old Man Chapuza is there, so look for him."

"Chapuza?"

"Ask him for work. Even if he refuses, insist! If you don't work, Zoebaba will turn you into an animal. She is the owner of the Botanica Spa bathhouse."

"Zoebaba?"

"You'll see. She's the witch who rules our world. Chapuza will try to trick you into leaving, but keep on asking him for work. It'll be hard work, but it will give you a chance. Then even Zoebaba can't harm you."