Chapter Text
This won't go back to normal, if it ever was, it's been years of hoping.
"La Familia Madrigal!" They all cheered in chorus. Yet, there is one voice that couldn't be heard amongst them. Mirabel stood aside far from her family as they took a picture, or they just simply forgot to include her. The youngest daughter of Julieta chose to scratch the latter. "The best way for some of us to help is to step aside," Words coming from her Abuela rings to the ears of Mirabel. She smiled ruefully. She just needs to step aside so she wouldn't be a disturbance to their tasks.
No big deal.
Mirabel finds herself soothing her arm with her hand. Her thoughts were deafening that she couldn't even bring to hear everyone around her.
Stepping aside... Does it also mean excluding herself from family pictures? Or when there is a family conversation, she must also have to exclude herself from the narrative? Just like his Tio Bruno, who was forgotten from the mouths of his loved ones. His familia.
Mirabel shakes her head. No! She does not want to be forgotten. With a newfound courage, Mirabel tries to blend into the people inside her primo's room. She tried to reach for her cousin but failed as children and other people crowded Antonio, giving him praise and words of congratulations for his gift.
Something that was deprived of her since she was five. Mirabel again shook her head and tried to muster up the happiest smile she could. Doing some awkward dances, Mirabel went to the children she often plays with, in the Encanto, one of them being Cecilia, since the grown-ups, her sisters, prima and primos seemed to forget her presence amongst the crowd, Mirabel chooses to go to them instead.
But as Mirabel gets near, Cecilia pulls the hand of another boy—the one who drinks coffee—towards his primo. Mirabel halted, a rush of shame runs in her spine. "A little sisterly advice, if you aren't always trying too hard you wouldn't be in the way." She suddenly remembered Isabela's words earlier. "You don't have to overdo it," then her mother's. Mirabel almost clutches the fabric of her clothing as she suddenly felt pain bubbling in her chest. A lump starting to form in her throat. She has to get out.
Rushing outside Antonio's room, Mirabel runs without looking back. Her glasses aren't helping her vision as her eyes started to become blurry. A loud thud echoes along the hall of Casita's second floor. Panting, Mirabel slide from the hard surface of her door while slowly falling to the floor. She couldn't breathe, her head is throbbing with pain because of several voices that wasn't her own and whispering bad things to her. The pain that is forming in her chest add up to her state of misery.
Mirabel wanted to claw and leave marks on her throat. Por favor, she could not breathe. Why does she couldn't breathe? It was Antonio's special day she has nothing to be sad for, it was her special day. She has nothing to be sad for. Filling her mind with happy thoughts, Mirabel tries to steady her breathing. It helped, but it did not make the pain in her chest go away.
Mirabel's eyes slowly fell upon the teal dress laying on her bed. It was embroidered with different designs, specifically butterflies and they have their intricate details on them. Her mind travels back to the moment earlier, everyone in her family was wearing their biggest smiles because... what's not there that they should not be happy? Nothing.
It should had been her happiest moment too, if she had been there also with them while all the people from Encanto watch as they all shout "La Familia Madrigal." Because what's not there that she should not be happy? It is her Quinceañera after all.
Mirabel made a strange sound, a painful one. It took her seconds to realize that she is choking a sob while clutching her stomach. A realization finally coming to her. They had forgotten her Quinceañera. Her familia forgot one of the most important events of their sweet Mirabel. Just like how they'd forgotten Tio Bruno like he did not exist...at all. A plague, something of a curse.
"They really forgot huh," she mumbled in defeat. Suddenly, her eyes started to itch, she tries to rub them but it gotten worse. The itch transition to burning. Her eyes are burning! Mirabel rubs her eyes aggressively. She mumbles it hurts; it hurts, it hurts.
Something escapes from her eyes; they fell across Mirabel's cheeks and a jingling sound ring to her ears. She can't stop them from falling and she lets them out, then Mirabel wails. She could not careless if Dolores would hear her, although that is an impossible scenario as the music coming from Antonio's room would only muffle the sounds Mirabel makes. She cries.
She was crying for hours, the cries starting to descend into whimpers and only hiccups until Mirabel is just only staring across the window of her room. She blinked a few times; she thought she was just imagining things when she saw spots of black and white. She adjusted her glasses and rubs the frame using the fabric of her skirt.
"What time is it?" She asked to herself. The tiles of Casita pushed the clock towards her. It was almost midnight. The celebration should be ending by now. Mirabel stood from the floor and slowly opened the door. Then, she hears voices from a distance. She slightly closes back the door. It was her Papa and Mama.
"I know this day will be hard for her, Agustin. I rarely see her at the celebration," Julieta shifts her gaze across the nursery. Panicked, Mirabel immediately closed the door. There is nothing to worried about, it is Antonio's ceremony, and everything went accordingly to Abuela's wishes. Mirabel did not get in the way. She let everyone handle everything without her meddling. There is nothing to worry about. Maybe it was a good thing they had forgotten her Quinceañera.
Small beads of tears started to form from the corners of her eyes. It's starting to itch again. She had been useful for not meddling and getting in their ways. She heard a jingling sound, then her right eye is suddenly burning. She has to close it because the pain is starting to be unbearable.
Then another.
And another.
Then another.
She had been useful. A genuine smile quirked up her lips. It was reasonable though, her primo's ceremony is more important than her Quinceañera. It's just the effort and importance bear more weight for her cousin compared to hers. Everyone from the Encanto are looking forward to it. And of course, it was not her cousin's fault. She loves him tremendously. Suck it up. Its nothing.
Mirabel wipes her tears, but she immediately pulls her hands. The tears are... warm? Paying no mind, she finally drags herself onto the bed. Setting her dress in her drawer, Mirabel pulls the blanket over her. Her eyes still sting, maybe her mama is right. She might just be overdoing it.
Mirabel surprisingly, woke up a little late to wake the rest if the family causing them to delay on their duties. And of course, her assumed tardiness received a reprimand from her abuela. It was not it, because adding to her punishment is that her cousins and sisters are able to witness her abuela reprimanding Mirabel. She saw a glimpse of Isabela's reaction and it was torn between a snicker and a glare. While the rest were just frowning, and if she hopes they are also somehow concerned. An involuntarily scoff escapes from her. She's going to be killed by her hopes.
"Mirabel!" She jolts from the voice. Suddenly, Mirabel is conscious about her surroundings again. Her eyes search for her abuela's face and silently cursed herself for doing so. Alma Madrigal's face is fuming. "What are you scoffing for? When did you learn to disrespect you elders?"
"A-Abuela I'm not—" Mirabel tries to defend herself but failed. "Enough! Off you go, if this is to happen again, I believe there will be consequences already."
Abuela walked past Mirabel, and her faint footsteps was the only evidence that she had been there. Mirabel turns her head on the people remaining, Camilo is wearing an unreadable expression while Luisa is seemed... concerned? For her oldest hermana and prima, Isabela immediately leaves while Dolores is wearing the same unreadable expression as her hermano. What a pity. She looks pathetic.
Shame running up to her spine, Mirabel immediately exit the scene and locks herself in the nursery. Her eyes are starting to itch again but she ignores it and went to grab her sewing kit. Suck it up. Mirabel tries to steady her breathing as she went to also grab some of her silk fabrics. A good project to make would help to distract her mind.
Setting herself in the desk, she pulls a sketchbook and pen. She draws a couple of dresses on the paper flooding her mind with creativity in attempt to eradicate all the unsavory emotions she was feeling. Scribble, scribble, scratch, scratch. Mirabel did not notice her teeth gritting. Scribble, scribble, scratch, scratch. Nuisance, disobedient, disrespectful...useless.
Her grip tightens on the pencil and the image of the clothing started to look disoriented. Unsatisfied, Mirabel rips the paper from the sketch book and throws it away. Casita easily catches the paper. Looking over to her more decent sketches, she choses the one she will do for her project. Her fingers lingered on one of them. Long dress, the sleeves are seen through, and the base and overall design of the dress were intricate details of flowers— Isabela. She believes that sky blue would just complement her skin as cool colors just looks spectacular on her.
Mirabel knows that her relationship with her oldest hermana has been shaky ever since her gift ceremony, it has been ever since. Sighing, she makes a mental note about her sister's engagement with Mariano Guzman, a couple of days from now. Mirabel grabs her bag and finally leaves the Casita to go to the only clothing store in the village. Luckily, no Cecilia and other kids ambushed her along the way asking about her family's gifts. She sighs in relief. During her journey, she saw her sister Luisa carrying all the donkeys as her duty for the Encanto. Mirabel tries to wave at her sister when she notices they are about to meet each other's eyes. Yet, it seems like Luisa did not see her at all.
Mirabel smiled ruefully, and tries to murmur a words of comfort to herself. "Its alright, Mirabel."
The journey to the clothing store of Señora Natividad did not take long. The old woman in her mid-forties gladly welcome the young Madrigal.
"Hola, Señora," Mirabel greeted the woman cheerfully which was also returned. "Hola mi niña, Mirabel come in!" The girl walks towards the counter, "What can I do for my favorite customer here in Encanto?" Mirabel smiled sheepishly. "I'm planning to buy some fabrics, uh, do you happen to have a sky blue, Señora?"
"Well, I guess its just your lucky day chiquita. Si, I do have a stock of sky-blue fabric," the woman beamed. "There, in that section, grab as many yards as possible into your liking. Do you have a new project?" Mirabel only nods, then she thanks the woman before walking to the section of fabrics. She grabs at least four yards of sky-blue fabric as she deemed Isabela to be quite tall.
Mirabel did not notice her lips already quirking up into a small smile. Even though she and Isabela has been constantly giving snarky remarks whenever their paths crossed and even though Mirabel felt she probably hates her now. Still, she is holding to a miniscule of hope that the Isabela she once knew is still there, just hiding from the person of being a golden child. Again, with that hope, Mirabel.
Having a newfound courage, Mirabel hums as she leaves the clothing store and tenderly clutches the fabrics to her chest. She will make the prettiest dress for her hermana as a gift for her proposal. Right, she will do that. She hums happily as she makes her way back to Casita without noticing three shadows hiding in the alley she was about to pass.
Suddenly, her humming was interrupted by an aggressive force. Someone has pulled her arm, and the pull sends her flying against the wall. Mirabel grunted in pain, and the newly bought fabrics she was holding scattered all over the alley. She struggles to recognize the face of the attacker as her glasses was also sent off flying to God knows where. Miercoles, her back hurts.
The poor girl tries to get her footing but was send again by a force resulting Mirabel to be pinned to the wall and this time it is stronger. Mirabel almost bites her lip to prevent herself from yelping. "Look if isn't it our little gift less Mirabel? Tú mirar patètico, doing errands for your familia? You look more like a helper than a family member to them," a series of laughter followed after the remark. Dread started to prick on the skin of Mirabel, she recognizes that voice.
Her face was suddenly pulled and the grip easily hurts Mirabel as if there is an attempt to leave a mark. "Look at me when I'm talking to you gurrupleta!" Mirabel groaned from the tightening of the hold. "L-Let me go!" She tried to get words out of her mouth. She would not let them have the last laugh. But Beatrice's grip to Mirabel's face was just too strong that no matter how the younger Madrigal tries to free from her, she simply just failed. Beatrice and her minions has always been taunting her throwing all the insults they could get and stretch out from their mouths whenever they encounter Mirabel, but today looks a little different because they never got physical, not until today.
Mirabel sees a chance to escape when she sees a weak spot between her and Beatrice's position. She instantly elbow the older girl who loudly yelp from the sudden attack. Mirabel hastily grab all the fabrics scattered even though her eyes starting to get a little sting. She did not know if its because of the lack of glasses or she was about to cry. As she was about run from the dimmed alley, someone carelessly grab her from the back.
No! Not again!
Mirabel does not look back and instead pushes through. She paid no mind on the screeching sound of her clothing as the hold got too strong that it got the upper part of her clothing ripped. An attempt for escape and it fails her. She stumbles hard on the surface causing some scratches to bloom on her arms from the impact. The fabrics she was holding, the fabrics that was supposed to be for Isa's dress slipped from her hands.
The time started to slow down. She was being pull back by her foot as if she is just a mere rag doll. But Mirabel's eyes never left the fabrics which were snatch carelessly from the stone surface. Where she had slipped them. Mirabel could not hear her own voice but she knows she cried out when one of the minions of Beatrice rips them apart with no mercy. Laugh cackling from their disgusting mouths.
Then, suddenly everything was a blur. She heard blood ringing to her ears. Blood, blood, blood.
Mirabel felt pain all over her body, but mostly to her face. One moment she began to be aware of her surroundings, and Mirabel tries to shield her face from their smacks and punches. But they were just too strong, and she is just...what? Weak? Useless? Gift less? A shudder runs through her spine. She tries to open her bloodied mouth and desperately whispers, "D-Dolores..." it almost sounded like a slur, but Mirabel kept saying her favorite prima's name. Dolores, Dolores, Dolores like it was a prayer hoping that if she will continue then a miracle would come, and help will be on her way.
It's been moments of hoping yet the help did not come. Mirabel did not know how long she just been staring at a wall. Her body is aching so much she might just feel she is going to die. The blood already dried on her skin. She must've been staying in the alley for how long? How come no one noticed her? Did they not see her? Or they just simply did not care?
A cold breeze washes over Mirabel. Her eyes scan the surroundings. The moon is already setting on its peak. Then suddenly, Mirabel's eyes widened in realization. Miercoles, her familia must've been looking for her! She immediately snatches all her things running across the village to the Casita. She did not bother to look around anymore, and she hopes no one in her way notices how she was almost limping.
Reaching the Casita, Mirabel swiftly scan the facade of the animated house. She saw her room was lit. Who is in there? Rushing inside, she sneak into Casita like a mice and not making any noise.
"They probably having dinner now," Her plan was to stay in the nursery until all of them settle into their own rooms. Mirabel is thankful that her mama always has leftovers, so she could easily sneak into the kitchen to grab some.
As she was about to reach her room, a figure leaves from it. Mirabel almost startle that she did not notice she made a squealing noise. She immediately hides behind a wall. "What does Luisa doing in my room?" As soon as Mirabel realizes she had spoken. She tightly closes her eyes and mentally curse herself. Dolores, she probably already knows I was here.
Peaking from behind the wall, Mirabel no longer sees any trace of Luisa, so she took the chance to locked herself inside. Panting, she put all the ruined fabrics on the table where her sewing machine is placed.
Deep breaths Mirabel, deep breaths. She almost snorted, she would sound like her Tià Pepa. Mirabel let herself fell on the soft mattress of her bed. She holds a mirror over her face. She grimaced. She was painted with her own blood, and she smells like dirt.
Having no strength to change her ruined clothes, Mirabel stares on the ceiling. Seeing nothing. "What did just happen?" She tries to put all the events altogether. Isabela's dress, sky blue, Dolores, Beatrice.
Blood. Blood. Blood. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a soft knock, "Mira?" She almost chokes a sob when she recognized the voice, it was her other hermana. It is Luisa.
Did she come all the way here to check on me? Warm and hope instantly to bloom in her chest. She came to check on me. Mirabel weakly reaches the surface of her door. "L-Luisa?" Her voice merely came out as a whisper. Seconds passed before she receives a reply. "Dolores had informed us that you already arrived home. Uh, you missed dinner sis." Mirabel's lips started to quicker, and even though her entire body is aching, she smiled. She was worried about me. Mirabel could tell what has transpired today. Luisa will protect her. Then, Beatrice will be apologizing incessantly to what she had done to her.
The thought made her ache. Oh, she wants nothing than to bust the door open and tackle her older sister in a hug and ask for comfort. It was not all lost. As soon as Mirabel was about to open the door and reveal her state, her sister spoke again. "Mama has left you some dinner. And uh... well Abuela isn't exactly pleased and had informed me to tell you that she will have a talk with you tomorrow." All of a sudden, the color on Mirabel's face has been drained out. Another talk with Abuela. She knows it is certainly not good sign.
"Alright. Thank you, Luisa..." She no longer received a reply. An ugly feeling settles in her stomach. "Luisa?" Her voice is so small that she is afraid it would not reach the other side.
Again, no response. Mirabel painfully closes her eyes, they started to itch then the sensation was instantly replaced by burning. She rubs both of her eyes to erase the funny feeling in them. It did not help at all. It only made it worse as her entire face is hurting too. The whimpers had been reduced to sobs and wailing. And her eyes kept feeling like its burning. Mirabel let out a muffled yelp.
She couldn't open her eyes and they hurt so much. But she can't stop crying, the physical and emotional pain have reduced her into a sobbing mess. Mirabel continues to rub her eyes in desperation and the once metallic dried blood is starting to mix with her glittering tears.
The tiles of Casita trembled, but Mirabel unable to see them. She continues to bawl her eyes and Miercoles, they hurt, hurt, hurt.
Luisa
Abuela
Isabela
Beatrice
Mama.
Mirabel finally opens her eyes, the young girl stared slightly in horror. She has to blink a few times just make sure she is not imagining things.
Fear trickled in the mind of the fifteen-year-old Madrigal; her heart's beats faster than it ever was. Mirabel let out a silent scream, unable to overcome the frantic feeling. She continues to look around in a frantic state, blinking. She almost stumbled on Casita's floor. She can't no longer see the colors of her surroundings.