Bruno ran threw the woods as fast as his legs would carry him. Jumping over logs, rocks, and anything else obstructing his path. Lungs burning and muscles straining, he pushed himself further. Looking behind him, he could see a dark figure following after, gaining on him.
When he focused forward, he smashed right into someone making him bounce backwards on to the ground. "I've been looking for you," Andre said crossing his arms in disappointment. He crouched down to level with his lover. "What did you do with the ring I gave you?"
Breathing heavily, Bruno managed to respond, "I threw it away as soon as I could get it off."
Andre glared menacingly. "No one is going to know you're engaged to me if you don't wear it." He produced the ring from his pocket. "Be good little mouse, and I won't punish you." Bruno scrambled up quickly running in the direction he had come from. Andre laughed watching him go.
Bruno ran for what felt like a mile only to stop in his tracks to see Andre a few meters away, in front of him, waving at him. Somehow, his heart beat faster. "Nonononono," he breathed out running in another direction, as he heard the echo of Andre laughing all around him.
"Run as fast as you can little mouse, you'll never escape me," Andre said, his voice reverberating through the forest. It was a nightmare. It had to be a nightmare. His rats would wake him up. Bruno hoped desperately that his rats would wake him up.
He tripped and fell to the ground but didn't get the chance to get up as a shadow was cast over him. He didn't bother to look up. "Are you done?" Andre asked sounding bored.
"Why are you here?" The smaller man asked clinching his fists against the ground. "You're dead."
Andre grabbed Bruno's upper arm and pulled him to his feet. He then wrapped his arm around the smaller man's back and grabbed his chin. Forcing Bruno to look at him, he said, "You should be asking yourself that."
He didn't get a chance to ask what that meant, a stinging pain on his shoulder jerked him awake. Bruno sat up lifting the rat on his shoulder into his hands petting it, feeling grateful for his friends. He looked to the other side of the room to see Felix was asleep on the other bed.
Bruno sighed trying to recall what had happened in the bathroom. The memory was foggy, but he remembered having an outburst. And he remembered Andre, but he was dead. Bruno rubbed his temples. Someone had held him down. Bruno pulled as his hair harshly. He must have passed out after his bath.
After having a tantrum, he was sure his family would treat him like a child forever. Maybe it was what he deserved. He was obviously no good to himself or them. He couldn't fight or defend his family. It was his fault that the encanto had been attacked. His family was forced to do all the work to save them. He barely saved his mother, and even that caused them so much trouble.
Now he was causing his family even more problems. He should be able to take care of himself, not let them waste their time trying to do it. He should be the one to comfort them from everything they have been through. Since he is the one who caused all of this, it should be him who fixes it. But he didn't know how.
If he could just get some time to be alone and to clear his mind, maybe he could come up with a solution. Being trapped in the house wasn't helping. It felt very safe and he liked that, but it felt so stifling too. He needed to get out, for just a moment. Then he would find a way to make things better for his family and make up for putting them through so much.
.=.
When the battle inside of the encanto had ended and things began to settle. The children were asked to recount everything that happened outside of the encanto. And what the parents learned was disturbing. Their children had almost been killed. Luisa had especially been near death.
There was nothing that could be done about it now. But Agustin took it upon himself to keep close tabs on their children, fearing the worst every time they left his sight. He constantly asked them if they were okay, what they were doing, where they were going, and what they were thinking of at any moment. If they left the house, Agustin would insist on going with them.
Julieta was more practical, she tried her best not to worry so much, but it was hard not to. She knew now more than ever that she could not protect her children from everything. But to cope with what had happened, she made sure they always had some of her food with them at all times.
Isabela, Luisa, and Mirabel appreciated that their parents were being so accommodating and attentive. Their father was slightly annoying, but it was understandable. Eventually he would ease up, but for now the girls allowed their father to be over protective.
Pepa and Felix were similar in these sentiments. But Felix was very level headed and tried his best to remind himself that his children were capable and he did not need to watch them every second of the day. Sometimes he forgot and caught himself following them in town or checking on them in their rooms too often.
Pepa worried for her children, and after having some time to talk with them she knew she needed to take some action. The first thing she needed to do was help her brother, knowing that was her children's main concern, and therefore her's. His condition was effecting everyone, and something needed to be done.
.-.
Luisa stood in her room. She checked herself in the mirror lifting her blouse and lowing her skirt a little to smooth her hand over her stomach where she had been stabbed. Always meant to be the strong one, she never felt so fragile and weak. It was scary and she had been having nightmares about the night she had almost been killed.
A knock on her door made her quickly situate her clothes properly and try to act casual. Mirabel peaked in to let her sister know it was breakfast time. The younger immediately saw the older's eye twitch. "Are you okay?" Mirabel asked.
Sighing, Luisa responded, "Not really." She knew she couldn't hide things from her sister. She didn't really want to hide this, the family was trying to be more open and there for each other. If she could not talk to her family, the people who cared the most, who could she talk to? And if the miracle almost failing taught her anything, it was that honesty could bring good things.
She sat on her bed and Mirabel joined her. "I've been having nightmares from the night we were attacked. I could have died. We all could have." She shrugged. "It all worked out, and we made it out okay. But the feeling of almost being killed and seeing other people dying, it bothers me."
Mirabel took her sister's hand and squeezed it. "I know what you mean," she said sadly. "Almost losing you was the hardest thing I've ever been through, and I can't imagine how it must have felt for you." Luisa teared up a little. "You saved my life Luisa. I want you to know I am so grateful and I'm sorry that you are going through this."
"We are going though this," Luisa corrected. It as true, they experienced that horrible moment together with Isabella. And somehow remembering that they were together made it feel a little easier. They could make it through if they stuck together.
In the kitchen, Isabela stood staring through the window as her mom cooked breakfast. She couldn't stop thinking about killing that evil man. It felt like he deserved it, but remembering the sounds he made when he died, along with the cracking of his bones, rung in her mind. He was hurting her family, and anger got the best of her, so she killed him. She was beginning to wonder if she shouldn't have taken it that far.
"Isabela?" Agustin waved his hand in front of her face. He had tried getting her attention several times. She finally noticed. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," She said giving him a smile. "I was just lost in thought."
"I'm worried about you," He said, she had not spoken about killing that man. He didn't want to bring it up until she was ready. But the more time that passed, the more he worried that she would hold on to it for too long. "If you ever need to talk, I'm here for you."
"Thanks Papi," Isabela said. "But, I'm fine." Old habits die hard, and she wasn't accustomed to sharing what was bothering her. So she chose to stay quiet.
.=.
Bruno appeared to be asleep by the time breakfast was served. He hadn't woken since the bathroom incident and everyone was anxious for him to wake up so they could be sure he was alright. When Felix left the room Bruno got up. He threw salt over his shoulder and took a deep breath holding it as he left the room with his fingers crossed.
He hid behind a pillar near the front door and watched Felix and Pepa leave the house to take breakfast outside. Feeling anxious, he lifted his hood over his head; Hernando was scared of nothing. Other family members left the house, and the last ones out were Luisa and Mirabel. When they stepped outside, Hernando ran as quietly as he could making it through the doors before they could shut. Casita's doors slammed in frustration. Thinking nothing of it, no one checked to see if something was wrong.
Planning to be back before breakfast was over, he dashed around the corner of the house house and toward the trees. A few feet from the trees, Hernando slid to a halt. Looking through the woods, he saw a shadowy figure. He squeezed his eyes closed and opened them and the shadow was gone. He was beginning to think going to his tower would have been a smarter option, but he was already here and being outside guaranteed he'd be alone. Hesitating too long, someone noticed him.
Mirabel had not expected to see her tio by the woods. "Bruno?" She questioned and began making her way toward him. The rest of the family did not notice, engaged in conversation.
Hernando was never scared, yet he felt unsettled by the woods. He ignored the feeling and went in making his way to the river. He liked the sound of the water, it was calming. Mirabel followed undetected curious of where her tio was going.
Hernando eventually slowed his run into a walk. Feeling a little braver after a few minutes of nothing happening, Bruno took his hood off looking around at the trees. It was okay at first but then he felt a spike of anxiety go threw his chest. Memories of Andre chasing him flashed in his mind. Bruno leaned against a tree for a moment then grabbed his stomach at the phantom pain slicing into his stomach. 'I will come back for you, I promise,' Andre whispered through the breeze.
Mirabel inched closer but stepped on a stick making it snap loudly. Upon hearing the sound Bruno made a run for it. Blindly running through the trees in fear, he couldn't hear his niece call after him. He could only hear someone chasing him. She ran after him barely keeping up with his mad dash.
Bruno ran so fast that when he came to the river he couldn't stop in time and ran straight into it. The cold morning water was like a shock to his system. Waist deep in the water it came to him that this was all in his head, Andre is dead and no one is chasing him. He put his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath feeling ridiculous.
"Tio Bruno!" Mirabel shouted when she reached the river's edge. Bruno twisted in to look behind him abruptly from fright and fell in the water fully submerged. It was without warning and he accidentally sucked water into his lungs. Hi niece quickly ran in to help him, pulling him out of the water. He coughed and sputtered as they stepped out. "Tio, are you okay?" She asked letting him lean against her as he spit up water.
"Yeah," He said coughing a little more before sitting on the ground out of breath. He shivered from from being soaked. But he was more concerned that he had been found out. It was meant to be a quick and easy trip out of the house. He already regretted leaving. He should have stayed where it was safe, but then again nowhere was safe. Because Andre was everywhere.
He put his head in his hands trying to not think about it. "What are you doing out here?" Mirabel asked sitting next to him. He watched the water flow by them, not sure what to say. What could he tell her? He hadn't had a chance to think. He pulled at his hair in frustration. Mirabel grabbed one of his hands to get him to stop.
Not wanting to make him react worse, she didn't ask anymore questions. She just held his hand rubbing her thumb over the back. Bruno pulled his hand away, he should be the one comforting her. Instead she was trying to reassure him like a child.
Mirabel was worried. He wouldn't talk to her, or anyone, and he refused to accept any kind of comfort. When they had rescued Bruno the first time, he was badly hurt and she witnessed what she thought was the worst Andre could do. Bruno was in a bad state before, but he talked and they connected. There was hope that things would get better.
But now, Bruno was closed off. Whatever he experienced with Andre the second time around must have had been unimaginable. All he did now was apologize, cower, and act out in odd ways that she didn't understand. It was hard to handle.
She finally broke the silence, "I wish you would talk to me, or anyone really. Everyone is worried about you, and we've been trying to help." She looked at him as he stared at the water. His eyes looked sad. "If what we are doing isn't working. I need you to tell us what will."
"Mirabel! Tio Bruno!" Dolores yelled from afar with her hands covering her ears. She found them easily. "Everyone is looking for you two," Dolores said expectantly.
Camilo chimed in running up behind his sister, "Hurry up! There is something wrong with the candle." At this, Bruno and Mirabel quickly ran to the house in time to see the doors and candle flickering. The flickering stop eventually and the family crowded around talking amongst each other.
"Let's not panic," Abuela announced. Everyone quieted down and listened. "We have all been through a lot and the miracle is effected by it. Give it time, things will get better and it will be okay." Having saved the miracle last time, Abuela signaled Mirabel to come talk to her more privately. Mirabel squeezed her tio's hand quickly and ran off.
"Bruno!" Pepa called to him exasperated. He flinched when she came at him expecting the worst but she only hugged him, relieved he was safe. "We were all worried about you," she said releasing him and noticing he was soaked even though it had not rained. She then grabbed his hand and pulled him to the nursery shutting the door. The rest of the family dispersed trying to busy themselves from thinking about things they can not control.
Worried about what Pepa was up to, Julieta let herself into the nursery. The taller sister was already reprimanding him. "What is going on with you?" She practically yelled in frustration. "I just don't understand how a bath can make you go catatonic yesterday! But a trip in the woods and going for a swim today, without anyone to protect you, is such a breeze."
Bruno had his head lowered and stared at the floor in front of him. Normally Pepa would yell at him where they stood. He could tell she was taking some extra care by doing this more privately. He didn't know how to answer her question because he could not recall exactly what set him off in the bathroom. And the woods were just a mistake, he just wanted to get some time to himself. He wanted to at least be in his room.
Pepa and Julieta waited for him to respond. But they all remained in silence. "Please Bruno," The shorter sister said, "Please, say something. Tell us what's going on in your head." His eyes filled with tears and he wished he could find the right words that would make everything okay.
Telling them anything would upset them. Saying what was going on his mind made it real. Acknowledging what he had been through with Andre meant that it really happened. He couldn't bare to admit that it happened. Tears streamed down his face and his sisters looked on seeing the pain in his eyes.
"I-I'm sorry," he apologized sobbing.
"Bruno-" Pepa said, about to tell him that she was sorry for upsetting him. She worried she had gone to harshly on him again. But he spoke again.
"I-," He sobbed and tried to continue, "I don't know how to make it better. I don't know how to fix this. I know it's all my fault. I know you are all trying to help. But I can't get it out of my head." They didn't understand what he was trying to say. Bruno fell to his knees and they followed embracing him more worried than ever.
He trembled and sobbed for a long while as his sisters held him. And when he quieted he silently cried for a long time. When he calmed, he continued, "I want to talk to you. I just don't know how. Can you just give me some time?" He asked hoping they would understand. "I want to be alone. Can I just go to my room?"
Asking to go to his room made him physically ill and he quickly pulled away from his sisters vomiting on the floor. His memory flashed like lightning in his mind. He had asked Ramiro to go to the bedroom, it was part of Andre's rules. Ramiro followed him in to the room and made him- Bruno retched.
"Bruno?" Pepa called to him watching him back himself up against the wall after being sick on the floor. He gagged and his eyes were shifting in every direction yet appeared unfocused.
His memories bombarded him with images and phantom touches. Ramiro made him swallow cum and then he fucked him. Bruno slammed his head into the wall behind him and cried out, "NO!" He did not want to relive it. There was so much blood after and gore where a face should have been. He slammed his head back again, but there was no pain this time.
Julieta held a pillow behind his head to protect him, as Pepa held on to his hands preventing him from pulling at his hair. "It's okay Bruno," Julieta tried to sooth him as he squirmed trying to get away. Unable to stop the memories, it played in his head like it was happening all over again.
As he struggled harder, Pepa folded his arms against his chest, straddled his legs, and hugged against him tightly. Julieta cupped him cheeks and spoke softly to him as he whined and grunted trying to get free from his assailant. Eventually he gave up and went limp. The women held on a little while longer before finally letting him go.
A storm cloud formed over Pepa's head soaking her in rain. "What is going on?" She cried. Julieta wished she had an answer. What they were both sure of was that they needed to change something, or their brother was going to get worse.