Chapter Text
Fading. Mirabel Madrigal's door was fading.
Something Alma had never seen in her thirty-five years as the candle holder was happening right before her very eyes. Her mouth was slightly agape as the glowing door faded away slowly into nothingness. It was as if the entire world had just stopped right then and there at that very moment. Her dependency, her selflessness, faded along side with said door. Her body appeared to be frozen in place, unable to move as just about everyone in the plaza stared at her. Her blood ran cold as she finally looked down to the child in front of her. Alma's heart tightened painfully when she locked eyes with little Mirabel, beautiful brown eyes were now filled with worry, embarrassment, and sadness as the tears threatened to leave.
The candle flickered in Abuela's hand as the door was nothing more, not even a silhouette stayed. Just a normal, blank wall. Her eldest triplet stood near, clasping onto her husband's hand so tightly that it was beginning to turn an off-white shade. Julieta let go once her baby ran up to her. She immediately took her youngest child into her arms, letting her sob uncontrollably into her shoulder while Agustín comforted both of them.
Wild whispers sounded throughout the crowd, asking:
'What's her gift?'
'What happened?'
'She's a Madrigal, right? Where's her gift?'
Dolores covered her sensitive ears from all of the noise surrounding her. Her parents helped as well as they, too, got ambushed with the sound of confused citizens. The two shared a quick glance, equally confused as the townsfolk with the situation at hand. Félix tried his best at soothing their daughter. "It's okay, bebé." He put more pressure on her ears to close any noise that may come through his palms.
Mirabel glanced to the crowd only to look away once she met some of their eyes. "I-I want to go... Th-They're all talking about m-me.." Mirabel sobbed. Julieta gestured for her husband to start walking to the nursery. They left as soon as they could.
Pepa left her side of the family to go up the stairs to Julieta, leaving Félix to calm the kids down. Abuela watched nervously, not knowing what to do. Her eyes ran just about everywhere. But then, finally landed on the people below. What would she even tell the townsfolk?
Abuela then turned to her only hope. Her only son. The seer. He stood on the other side of the staircase, staring at the place the door once stood. Bruno made eye contact once he finally stopped looking over to the wall. His chest puffed up at her stare. She then whispered ever so quietly that he could only tell what she said by reading her lips. "Meet me in my room."
She then faced the crowd, preparing for what she should even say. Some parts of the crowd looked confused, others looked rather angry, and others looked... scared? Abuela took a deep breath.
...
"Bruno, por favor. I need to know that the miracle is safe!"
"I-Mamá, do you even know what you are asking of me? Do you even know WHO you're asking? I'm the man that makes bad things happen! The scary triplet! The weirdo! If it comes back bad it will be...all my fault..." Bruno hung his head low.
Abuela had been begging for a good hour on getting a vision out of Bruno. It was way past everyone's bedtime, none of which were able to sleep from either them yelling, Mirabel crying, or overthinking about the entire night. Tears escaped her eyes as she continued pleading. "You are perfect, Bruno! I swear. All I am asking is for one vision. One vision that tells me what I need to do to save the miracle, save us!" Abuela tugged on Bruno's sleeve. "Your padre died for all of us, but his blessing still lives on." She paused as his eyes met hers. She swallowed dryly. "I am not letting this blessing die, too... So, please, Bruno.."
He sighed shakily, turning away as he crossed his arms. "Fine. BUT!" He threw a finger up, stating some sort of dominance. "If it turns out bad, I don't want to be blamed! And whomever is in it shouldn't be blamed either. So..." He turned to look at her. "If Mirabel is in it, she is not to be blamed. Okay, Mamá?"
A weak smile shown upon her thin lips, thanking god under her breath. "Sí, Brunito! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She kissed all over his face as she squished it.
He lightly pushed away from the out-of-nowhere affection. He wasn't really used to getting it from her over the past few years. "I...I'll tell you in a few minutes then. Okay?"
Abuela nodded happily. "Te amo, mijo."
He held his breath as he nodded, not saying it back.
...
Afterward...he wish he had.
...
The night soon led on with no news. Abuela figured he had just went to bed from his energy draining gift. It took a lot of willpower to use his gift, sometimes leading for him to sleep for a good twenty-four hours. As she got ready for bed, she prayed. Prayed that the miracle is safe. Prayed that there will be good news the following morning. Prayed that Bruno did well and found the answer that she so desperately needed. Even though she fully trusted Bruno, she slept little that night, tossing and turning from her nerves being on edge. Her stomach fell ill as her mind never ceased to think. She finally gave into slumber a few hours later.
The next morning came slower than she had hoped. Abuela woke up rather late, entering the kitchen to find her second triplet drinking a cup of coffee.
Abuela stared as Pepa was fully awake in the kitchen yet Bruno was supposedly still up in his room sleeping.
"P-Pepa." Abuela stuttered, correcting herself immediately afterwards. She pushed a fake smile. "Did Bruno awake you?"
Pepa laughed. "Surprisingly, no. It's weird, right?" She made eye contact with her mother until she noticed she seemed...off. Pepa looked out of the kitchen entrance. "Uhm. Well, he should be out by now. I should go get him up. We have plans to go out today."
"Yes.. Please go do that. It's late."
Pepa nodded.
Abuela watched her child leave as her other triplet entered the room tiredly, swaying a bit too. They both smiled weakly at each other. Julieta began preparing the food.
"Looks like you didn't sleep well either, huh, Mamá?"
Alma looked up to her daughter, taking notice to Julieta's fatigue. "Do I look that bad?" She touched under hers eyes playfully.
"No, no." Julieta waved her hand as she mentally yelled at herself. "You just look tired."
"I'm fine, mija. Just..." She looked out over. "Just a little on edge."
"Aren't we all?" Julieta chuckled, frowning the second she looked away.
Abuela nodded with a thin smile, watching the kitchen entrance for Pepa's return.
...
Pepa gulped at the sight.
Bruno's door was no longer glowing like it should.
Pepa turned the dull knob, no longer feeling the slight heat the doors usually gave off. She peeked her head in.
"Bruno...?"