The Book of Life Movie Novelization by Stacia Deutsch

Author:Stacia Deutsch
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Simon Spotlight

At dawn Maria hurried toward the floating bridge to meet Manolo. The bridge connected the island of San Angel to the Mexico mainland. The moon was fading and the sun began to rise.

Maria gasped when she saw that the pathway was covered with candles and flowers. At the top of the hill, a beautiful old tree was glowing with sparkling candles.

Beneath the tree Manolo stood, playing his guitar for her.

Maria tried to remain cool, though she felt overwhelmed by the amazing scene.

“This is what I wanted to show you.” Manolo pointed toward the town. At that exact moment the sun broke through the clouds, hit the stained-glass church steeple, and illuminated the town like a glorious, magical jewel.

“It’s so beautiful,” Maria said.

“What you’re feeling,” Manolo told her, “that’s how I feel every time I’m with you.” He knelt down in the center of a circle of candles. “I can’t offer you a ring. I have nothing to give but my love.”

“Oh, Manolo . . .”

Manolo went on. “I may not be the town hero, Maria, but I swear with all my heart, I will never, ever stop loving you.”

Maria touched his face and dropped to her knees in front of him.

“And I will never stop loving the man who plays from the heart.”

It was a beautiful moment, until Xibalba’s snake slithered out from the roots of the old tree.

“Snake!” Maria warned Manolo, but it was too late for him to escape the snake’s sharp fangs. With a great shove, she knocked him out of the way. The snake bit her, instead.

Maria collapsed into Manolo’s arms. “No!” he cried. “Maria!”

The snake slid back and disappeared among the roots of the tree.

“Help!” Manolo screamed.

*****

There was a boom of thunder before the rain began to fall. Joaquin reached the shoreline just in time to see Manolo walking through the downpour carrying Maria’s body.

“What did you do, Manolo?” Joaquin asked.

Manolo could barely speak. “There was a snake and . . . she saved me.”

Joaquin checked Maria’s wrist for a pulse. “Maria.”

The town began to gather behind him.

Choking on the words, Joaquin reported, “She’s gone.”

The entire town was in shock.

“Why didn’t you protect her?!” Joaquin was furious with Manolo. The medal on Joaquin’s chest began to glow and he reached for his sword, but before he could pull it out, General Posada came rushing forward.

“Maria! Oh no. Oh noooo!” The general gathered her into his arms before turning on Manolo. “This is all your doing! Leave, or so help me I’ll . . .” His voice dropped. “My little girl . . . What have you done, boy? What have you done?!”

Manolo lowered his eyes. “It should have been me.”

Joaquin agreed. “Yes. It should have.”

Leaving the others to tend to Maria, Manolo took his sorrow and pain and walked away alone.

*****

In the museum the kids looked up at Mary Beth with tears in their eyes.

“No! Maria died?” Sasha couldn’t believe it.

“That can’t be right!” Sanjay said.

“What kind of story is this? We’re just kids!” Even the goth kid was upset.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.