Bruno woke in the early hours of the morning with the urge to use the toilet. He got up quickly, startling the rats sleeping on top of him and around him. Isabela was asleep in bed, and he didn't want to disturb her, so he decided to leave quietly and come back before anyone noticed he was gone.

Two vines crisscrossed at her door as an extra security measure to keep him in. But his niece had over estimated his size and he slipped between the vines making it out easily. Shutting the door softly behind him, he looked to the right and left cautiously. Luckily, there was no one around.

Feeling a bit nervous, he knocked on the banister before making his way to the stairs. At the top of the stairs, he scanned the courtyard for threats, but all seemed quiet and safe. Tossing some salt over his shoulder, he swiftly stepped down and into the bathroom.

Bruno hated to be so paranoid and frightened of his own home. But Daz and Val were still around, he was sure of it. And there was no guarantee that Andre was truly gone. Luckily, with the help of his family, he knew he would be safe. But right now he was alone, and they might come for him.

He used the toilet quickly and washed his hands while ignoring the bathtub like it didn't exist. When he peaked out of the bathroom door to survey his surroundings, all was still and quiet. A rat climbed onto his shoulder to take a look too, but there wasn't much to see. Bruno took the rat in his hands and held it close.

"Careful," He told the rat. "They could be out there." The rat didn't understand what he meant but it would be cautious for it's human. So it scurried back into his clothes joining a few others. Bruno's heart was beginning to race. Not just over the evil spirits that were still lurking. But also over the dangers outside that could break in to Casita and get him.

"Tio Bruno?" A small voice said, causing him to yelp and fall back in fright, landing on the hard bathroom floor. Pain throbbed in his backside as the little boy stepped into the doorway.

"Antonio," Bruno gasped with his hand on his heart trying to calm down and focus on his youngest nephew.

"Are you okay?" The kid asked giving him a quizzical look.

"I'm fine, you just surprised me," Bruno assured as he pulled himself off the floor. He tried to act as calm and collected as possible, so that he would not scare the little one. "What are you doing up so early?"

"I just have to use the bathroom," Antonio responded waiting patiently for his Tio to move out of the way.

"Oh," Bruno said in understanding. He moved out of the bathroom and let the kid shut the door. The nervous wreck of a man almost left to go back to Isabela's room, but stopped himself thinking he should make sure his nephew gets back to bed safely.

When Antonio came out, his Tio stood there awkwardly and waved making the kid smile. "It's really early. How about we get you back to bed?" Bruno said offering his hand. Antonio took it easily and they walked together up the stairs to his bedroom.

Once inside, Bruno coaxed his nephew into bed and tucked him in. When he was about to leave, the small child stopped him by grabbing his hand. "Tio Bruno, are you going to die?"

"What?" Bruno sputtered in disbelief. Where did his nephew hear something like that? He sat down on the kid's bed in shock.

"Everyone keeps saying you're sick. Abuela says you almost died and you might die later," Antonio explained. He had been hearing the adults and animals talk. The best way he could understand it was that his Tio was sick to the point that he might die. "Can Tia Julieta heal you?"

"No, I mean yes," Bruno tried to answer. "You're Tia can heal anything. But I'm not dying." Antonio let out a sigh of relief.

"Good," the kid said scooting over and lifting his blanket for his Tio to join him. Bruno hesitated, he didn't really want to go to sleep. He wasn't sure if he would have a nightmare. If he had an outburst and hurt his nephew, he'd never forgive himself. But Antonio seemed insistent, and his jaguar let out a warning growl. So Bruno decided he would just lay down with Antonio until the kid fell asleep.

He got under the covers with his nephew. They laid on their sides and stared at each other for a moment. "You're supposed to close your eyes," Antonio explained. "I can't sleep if you don't too." Bruno gave him a small loving smile and closed his eyes.

The sound of the waterfalls were soothing. It reminded Bruno of his own room. The sound of the sand falling would lull him to sleep every night for most of his life. It took a while to learn to sleep without the noise when he was living in the walls. Eventually, the water lulled both Antonio and Bruno to sleep.

.=.

Isabela woke feeling hopeful. Her Tio was shaken and tired last night, but he also seemed relieved after they had gotten rid of Andre's ghost. And after he had went to sleep in her room, the cracks in the walls had vanished and the candle seemed to burn brighter. It meant the family was uniting and things were getting better.

She stretch happily, determined to help Bruno in any way she could to make him feel safe and loved. It was what he needed and after hearing his words to the ghost, she knew he believed in them. Bruno depended on the family and she would not let him down.

Isabela got dressed and ready for the day in a private area in her room before waking her Tio. Only, when she went to get him, he was not there. "Tio Bruno?" She called looking around the room. Beginning to feel alarmed, she searched the whole room twice over moving her plants and running around manically. Abuela was not going to take this well.

She quickly left the room and ran to get Mirabel. Her sister always had good ideas and did really well with Bruno. If anyone would knew how to handle this without Abuela, it was her youngest sister. Running to Mirabel's room, she was at her bed in an instant shaking her awake. "Mira, wake up!"

The younger sister grumbled awake, "What?"

"I can't find Tio Bruno," the older sister said worriedly.

"What?!" Mirabel shouted sitting up quickly.

"I woke up and he just wasn't there," Isabela insisted. "Abuela is going to freak out."

Quickly throwing her glasses and everyday clothes on, Mirabel led the way out of the room, only to run into Dolores. "Did you say Bruno is missing?" Both girls let out a heavy sigh, the whole family was about to find out.

.=.

Bruno woke up to a small child snuggling against his chest. It felt warm and comfortable. Even a hug from Camilo or Mirabel was hard to handle, but this was different. Antonio was so small and innocent, like one of his rats. It was easy to be close to him like this.

He was reluctant to let go of the boy when he started to wake and stretch. Bruno was so used to people forcibly hugging and grabbing him; he just wanted this gentle warmth to last a little longer. But he wouldn't hold on to Antonio if the kid didn't want to hug him a little longer.

As if reading his Tio's mind, the boy squeezed him with his little arms. "Morning!" He announced happily.

"Good morning," Bruno smiled, hugging him back.

After Antonio got dressed and ready for the day he took his Tio's hand to leave the room. Bruno was little nervous about it, but he figured if the five year old could do it, then he could too. He knocked on wood to the amusement of his nephew and they left the room together.

Outside of the room they could hear shouting. They looked down from the second floor to see the family arguing in the court yard. Antonio looked to his Tio, in hope that he knew what was going on. But Bruno could only shrug.

Not wanting to get involved with a large angry group of people, Bruno led his nephew down the stairs and crept to the kitchen before they could notice. He figured it was for the best not to get involved anyway. Antonio didn't need to see or hear anymore confusing things. It was bad enough that he had thought his Tio was dying.

When they got to the kitchen Bruno started to feel nervous again. He wasn't sure he could handle being out in the open like this for long. He'd rather be in a room without window for protection. But he couldn't leave Antonio to fend for himself, it looked like Julieta hadn't even started breakfast yet.

Whatever they were doing in the courtyard must be pretty serious. "Let's just eat a papaya. I think your Tia must be too busy to make anything right now." Antonio nodded excitedly, he liked fruit a lot.

.=.

"You were supposed to be watching him!" Abuela raised her voice in distress. "He could be anywhere!. He could be hurt or worse!"

"I'm sorry!" Isabela apologized full of anxious nerves.

"He couldn't have gotten far," Mirabel said hoping to deflect fault and just find Bruno. Casita tried to flap it's tiles to get their attention, but they ignored the house in favor of working out what to do next.

"We checked all over the house. He's not here!" Pepa shouted hysterically while she paced with a cloud over her head.

"Maybe he went to his tower?" Julieta suggested.

"He could be in any of the rooms," Agustin offered.

"Then we have a lot of ground to cover," Luisa commented worriedly.

"Some of us should go outside and look too," Felix added.

"I'll look in his room!" Camilo volunteer feeling like that's where his Tio had to be.

"We will split up," Abuela agreed. "Search quickly. He could be in danger."

"Before anyone leaves, let me grab some food just in case he's injured," Julieta advised hurriedly running to the kitchen. She stopped in her tracks the moment she stepped into the room. There by the counter stood Bruno and Antonio eating slices of a papaya and chatting.

"I don't get it," Antonio said to his Tio.

"The woman falls in love with the man after he saves her. But the man was already in love with the woman," Bruno explained, leaving out that he was talking of a forbidden relationship between an aunt and nephew . "Without her memory of her family forbidding the relationship, he can convince her that they can be together."

"Why wouldn't her family want her to be happy with the man?" the little boy asked.

"Uh," Bruno responded thinking of a good way to put it. "They're just over protective. He's much younger than her, I guess." The kid still didn't understand why that would make it forbidden.

"Bruno!" Julieta shouted making the small man jump in surprise. She hardly ever yelled, and he feared she might be angry at him. "Where have you been? The whole family is looking for you!"

She walked toward him looking very upset and he flinched away pushing up against the counter. Only, nothing bad happened. She enveloped him into a tight hug. He tensed for a moment but then relaxed. It was easy to remind himself that this was his family and they would not hurt him.

Although the instinct to get away from people and protect himself was still strong. Somehow, his family was becoming exempt from the rule. They had shown that they would do anything for him. They had shown how much they care. As long as his family was around, no one could get him. They proved that last night, and some had proved it even before then.

Pepa and Felix threatened Maria for him. Camilo and Mirabel were patient in working with him over touch and daily tasks. Agustin and Felix taught him self defense. Everyone was understanding of his condition and they all joined in the fight against Andre. Even his mother.

Best of all was Antonio. Bruno took him back to bed to sleep, then got him breakfast. It meant that their dynamic didn't have to change, and things could be normal. In time, he could be a good uncle to all his nieces and nephews. They would not have to take care of him. He would take care of them.

Mirabel and Camilo came into the kitchen to help and saw their Tio. Bruno saw sadness and relief mix in their expressions as they ran toward them and joined the hug. It was odd, but Bruno didn't feel so avert from their touch. It felt nice, so he hugged back with a smile.

Camilo quickly left the hug and ran out to the courtyard to let everyone know they had found Bruno. One by one, the family came in and joined the group hug. To Bruno, it felt like a warm cocoon of protection. He closed his eyes and thought of nothing but his family and all that they meant to him.

Abuela was the last to come into the kitchen. "Bruno!" She shouted. It sounded angry. But when the family released him from their embrace and stepped aside, Bruno could see that she was almost in tears.

"Mama," he said unsure of what to do. He understood that they could not find him, but he was only in the kitchen.

"You can't keep running off. I can't protect you if I don't know where you are," she said shaken and upset. "What if you hurt yourself again? What if we didn't make it in time to save you?"

Bruno felt regret over his past actions. And that led to the memories of why he did it. He could not guarantee that any of it would stop. The memories and nightmares were still haunting. But he was trying and he would keep trying. "I'm sorry. I'll be more careful," He responded walking toward her and initiating an embrace.

It was a surprise, he didn't touch anyone unprompted anymore. She hugged him back. "It's okay," she said feeling a little hope. "Just make sure someone always knows where you are." Bruno would for now. But he hoped that once he was okay enough, they wouldn't watch him so closely.

.=.

At breakfast, Abuela decided that the town could do without them for the day. She was too on edge to rely just on her in-laws to watch her son. She announced to everyone that the entire family would be watching over him today. After all, it was only yesterday that he had one of his worst outbursts. She didn't want to risk anything. She just wanted one good day where nothing bad happens.

Julieta allowed her brother to decide what he wanted to eat for breakfast. He hardly ate at all, so she wanted to be sure he would eat something. Bruno was feeling good today and his appetite aligned with his mood. So he shamelessly asked for as many arepas con queso as she was willing to make. Knowing her brother's eyes were bigger than his stomach, she made him three.

Bruno was feeling much safer with his family, so he decided to sit with them for breakfast. Normally they would take it outside but he wasn't ready to leave the house, so they used the table indoors. Camilo fought hard to sit next to his Tio and Mirabel managed to get the seat on the other side of him. Bruno smiled happily as his family grabbed their food and sat around him.

Normally, he didn't like crowds and the memories of the small group assaulting him would weigh on his mind. But he looked around at each of his family members and didn't see a group of harmful people. He saw individuals and all that they did to care for him. Things would be okay.

During the meal he listened quietly to Camilo go on about funny things that happened in town. The teen liked to pull small pranks but also helped many people in need with his gift. Mirabel cut in a few times to correct details making her cousin less cool than he tried to sound. Bruno enjoyed every second of the interaction.

The other family members could not help but to notice his good mood. It put everyone else in a good mood. For once in a long time, no one argued or fought over anything. Everything seemed as it should be. And though no one was there to see it, the candle was bright and strong.

After breakfast, Bruno was tired. He had spent so long alone stuck in his mind, that all the outside interaction was just a little too much. So he tried to go to Isabela's room, but Abuela stopped him.

"Bruno," She said catching up to him as he made for the stairs. He stopped to listen, hoping she wouldn't keep him too long. "Since you're in a good mood. I was hoping you would consider a bath." Bruno looked down and away from her, he wasn't ready for that.

"I know it's hard after everything you've been through. But it's not good too go this long without one," she explained. "You're going to start smelling and it's better you do it now while you're feeling okay, than to wait until later, in case something goes wrong."

What could go wrong? He was in a good mood, it was the start of putting the bad things behind him. He threw salt over his shoulder as to not jinx it. His family scared away his hallucinations and helped him in his dreams. Everything was fine. "Can't it wait till later? I'm kind of tired," he finally said looking at her.

"And what if later you can not handle it?" She asked. He was getting frustrated. His mother seemed to think something was going to offset his mood. There was no way, he was fine now. He felt normal for once and he was sure the feeling would continue for a long time. Maybe he could always be like this.

"I'll be fine," he insisted and stubbornly went upstairs. Abuela sighed but didn't push him for now. But she did send Dolores to follow him.

Inside Isabela's room Bruno found is favorite spot and laid down enjoying the smell of the flowers and the peace around him. "Tio Bruno," Dolores said startling him. He sat up quickly and saw her standing there watching him. "Sorry," she said quickly.

"It's alright," he responded. "I'm just jumpy." She nodded in understanding, then sat next to him in the flowers. "Abuela sent you to babysit me?"

"Yes," she answered. "But I also wanted to ask. Will the Aunt get her memories back? If so, will she still be in love with her nephew. And how can they be together if it is forbidden?" Bruno smiled at that. Finally someone who can understand his telenovela!

"That's just it!" He said excitedly. "She falls in love with him. And he makes romantic advances like giving her gifts and reciting poetry. When she gets her memory back, she is at first disgusted. After all it's her sister's step-son. But then she remembers all the things he did for her, and she can't help but to still be in love."

Dolores smiled at the romance of it. Mariano often read his poetry to her and gave her gifts. She was glad her family was accepting of their relationship. "How will they be together?"

"Ah, I haven't thought of that yet," he said regrettably before realizing that he had not actually told Dolores anything about his telenovela before. "How did you know about my story?" he brainlessly asked. She pointed to her ear with a smile.

"Right," he said with a laugh. "How could I forget." He frowned then, looking at her. She heard everything. She always heard everything. The closer she was to something the louder it was. He had seen her cover her ears just from yelling.

Bruno paled and his heart began to speed up. She had been there at Andre's house. It dawned on him that she had heard everything and was likely traumatized by it. The sound, he had not thought of the sound. He must have push it from his mind to protect himself.

Regret and guilt built up inside of him. He should have tried to be quiet when they tortured him. He was a lost cause but he could have at least protected her. It had just hurt so much and he had been so afraid. He didn't mean to think only of himself. "Dolores, I'm sorry," he whispered.

"For what?" She asked seeing the distressed look on his face. "Tio Bruno are you okay?"

Bruno felt sick. The sounds his niece heard must have been disgusting and horrible. He thought back to it, searching his memory for everything she could had experienced. The grunting and groaning of his captives getting off on him. The slapping and pounding against his skin. His crying and screaming.

It was like he was back all of a sudden. Bruno pulled at his hair, and started rocking back and forth. He could hear it all. The sound of heavy breathing in his hears and the feel of sticky sweaty skin against his. Their rough hands sliding over every part of him, smearing his blood.

Bruno moved forward getting on his knees and retched. His stomach ejected his breakfast all over Isabela's beautiful flowers. Dolores stood quickly and ran out to get help. Left alone, Bruno could hear their laughing.

"It's what you deserve you little shit," Val spat as her friends laughed.

"You were getting a little cozy there," Daz said amused. "Don't think you can get rid of us so easily."

Bruno vomited up the rest of the contents of his stomach before heaving to get air in his lungs. His chest felt restricted and he couldn't get enough air in. His heart was beating hard and rapid against his chest. With sweaty palms he pushed himself backward and away from his hallucinations.

Agustin and Felix burst into the room with Dolores trailing behind. "He was fine a minute ago. I don't know what happened," she explained as they reached him.

The hallucinations glared angrily as they disappeared with he appearance of his family. Bruno lay on his back taking in air and letting it out. But he couldn't seem to breath. "Try to calm down," Felix said grabbing his wrists and pulling him to sit up. Agustin started to rub his back to comfort him.

It didn't help. Tears slid down Bruno's cheeks as he tried to breath. But it was labored and hard and he started to see dark spots. "Try to take deep breaths," Agustin told him.

He couldn't. It wasn't fair. He would have to live like this for the rest of his life. And Dolores would have to as well. It wasn't fucking fair. Bruno lifted his head too look at the ceiling as his chest heaved and he started to feel light headed. His last thought before passing out was how he wished his niece could have been spared from such torment.