It had been days after Mayra found the Sánchez family, and Mateo was still weak. Mayra was so curious about him. Of course, there were boys in the Encanto around her age but that was the point, they were from the Encanto. She's always wondered what it was like outside of the Encanto. She asked her Papá about it, but he always seemed to change the subject. He changed the subject about his family before the Madrigals. Mayra wondered if she could get Mateo to tell her about Bogotá, Mayra knocked on the door and walked into the room that they were keeping the Sánchez children. The room turned bright yellow, making Julieta turn to face her. Mayra hated how she couldn't hide her feelings in her room. She went and sat next to her Mamá and Mateo. She could see the exhaustion on her Mamá's face. She placed her hand on her Mamá's arm. Julieta smiled at her before she turned her attention back to Mateo.
"Mamá, why don't you go rest? I can stay here with Mateo. You look tired. You have been taking care of the Sánchez family, our family, and the people in the village. You need some sleep. I can handle it for a bit."
Julieta smiled at her before she kissed the top of her head. She stood and left Mayra with Mateo. Mayra stared at Mateo to see he was still resting so she turned to her table. She grabbed the bowl on her desk and something to mix ingredients. She grabbed her bag and started to pull everything out of her bag. She had to restart from the day she found the Sánchez family. She put all the honey in the bowel before she smashed Tomate de árbols in a different bowl. She sprinkled a little cinnamon on the fruit and stirred it. She looked over at Mateo when she heard a noise come from his direction. She turned her attention back to the ingredients in front of her. She scraped some zest of a lemon the honey. She placed her tiny clay creation she received from Miguel over a candle before she put a small bowl on it. She crumbled some chocolate in the bowl and poured some milk in as she stirred. She blew the candle out but left the bowl on the clay creation. She grabbed the bowl with the cinnamon and fruit, slowly stirring it with the chocolate. She wiped her face, leaving a smudge of chocolate on her forehead. She was about to grab the bowl when she heard another noise from Mateo. She put down the bowl and walked over to him. She touched his arm, sensing little emotions. She didn't understand. He had been through a trauma. She thought he would have strong emotions with it. She was so focused on trying to find some negative emotions that she wasn't paying attention to anything else. Mateo jumped a bit, making her jump. She slipped and fell a bit, making the two stare at each other.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you curiosity killed the cat?"
"Yes, but he also told me satisfaction brought it back. How are you feeling? You didn't look too good when I found your family."
"I'm still a little tired but I feel better than I think I should."
"Oh, that's my Mamá and her gift for ya." Mateo laughed at Mayra as she stared at him. "No, I'm serious. My family has this magic candle, and we have gifts. My Mamá's gift is healing."
"You're joking? A magic candle?"
"Very serious my friend. My Abuelo died and somehow, we got our miracle from it. My Mamá can heal people. My Tía Pepa, she controls the weather. Please for the sake of the crops don't upset her. My Tío Bruno, he can see the future. He left and we can't talk about him. My cousin Camilo, shapeshifter. Be careful because he can play games and sometimes, they aren't the fun kind. Prima Dolores, she hears everything. She is probably listening to this conversation right now. I feel bad, that has to be a hard gift. Then you have my oldest sister Señorita Perfecta Isabela. She controls flowers and stuff like that that. She is Abuela's favorite. My sister Luisa, she has superstrength. I've seen her lift the church already. Those are only the people in the family with a gift. My Abuela she is the reason we are La Familia Madrigal. My Tío Félix he married my Tía and he is one of the few things to calm her storms. My Papá, he is muy propenso a accidentes. Finally, My sister Mirabel. She is my twin, my best friend, she and I do a lot together even though I have a gift and she doesn't."
"Things must get a little crazy with all that going on. You said you have a gift, what is it?"
"Two actually. I can sense and absorb emotions if they are negative. The other gift is I'm a matchmaker. I was doing that while I was watching you. My Mamá is tired, so I told her I'd watch you, but since you said you're okay I'm going to go finish what I was doing."
Before Mateo could answer Mayra went back to her work. She grabbed the She grabbed the bowl she had left on the clay piece. She started to pour the contents into the bowl with the honey and lemon zest. She started to stir everything together as she thought about how she felt little emotions with Mateo. That rarely happens. She doesn't really feel happy emotions the way she did before. Mirabel was one of the few people that happened with. Her Abuela made any physical touch with her brief, so she didn't sense her emotions. Hugs were very brief, when she touched Mayra's hand it was brief. Mayra turned to look at Mateo as she continued to stir her ingredients together. He stared at her as she walked across the room and started to look at a few jars. She placed the bowl down before she threw a few mint leaves into the bowl and back to where she was. When she thought it was stirred enough, she snapped her fingers and took her hand over the bowl. She smiled at Mateo as the pink and gold glowing dust fell in the bowl. She looked down to the hints of pink dust she looked for two small vials. After dumping the contents into the two vials she walked over to the wall. She knocked three times before she bumped her hip into the wall. She leaned against the wall, kicking it twice. Mateo stared at her a bit confused as she continued to stand there. He soon heard the same pattern repeated, making him sit up.
"If you're hungry I'm going to the kitchen. Everyone is in town doing chores. Don't worry Mamá is sleeping." Mayra looked up when she felt someone staring at her. Crap, I forgot about him. "My Tío Bruno had rats when he was here. A few stayed. I take care of them. Feed them and stuff like that. It reminds me of him."
"You got yourself some smart rats there. Mind if I come with? I'm pretty hungry."
Mayra smiled at him before she nodded. She knew her Tío Bruno wouldn't come out to see her if she had Mateo. She and Mateo slowly made their way to the kitchen. When they got to the kitchen Mayra grabbed three plates and walked around the kitchen where food had been set out. She put a little Arroz con Pollo on each plate. She put a couple arepas con queso on each plate and continued to move to get more food. She put a couple Empanadas on the plates before she grabbed three small bowls. She took the bowls over to a pot of soup and started to put Sopa de Patacón in each. Mateo stared at her as if she were crazy."I said I was hungry not on the verge of starvation. Your rat friends are really going to eat all that? Does your family know you feed them all that food?"
Before Mayra could answer someone else did. She spun around as she held her breath. She stared at him frozen. Why did he come out of the wall? What was he thinking? I was going to hand him the food. He is going to get caught. We are going to get caught.
"Nah but I'm sure if they did, they wouldn't be so happy since her rat friends is really her Tío Bruno. She is the only one that knows where I am. Please don't tell anyone you saw me."
Mateo stared at Mayra as she stared at Bruno. He touched her arm, making her jump. Bruno walked over to Mayra and grabbed his food as he smiled. She looked down at the floor and thought about how if her Mamá left her room she would catch her Tío. He disappeared as quickly and quietly as he appeared. Mayra still didn't move. Tío Bruno, what were you thinking. We are supposed to be protecting Mira. Mayra finally snapped out of her funk and grabbed all the food and told Mateo to follow her. The two sat at the table and stared to eat. Mateo would occasionally look at Mayra as she ate. He knew it wasn't really any of his business, but she looked so upset and she did save his life.
"Hey are you okay?"
"Yea, it's just my Tío Bruno left on my fifth birthday. In our family they are called gift ceremonies. That is the day Casita and the Miracle give us our gifts. Well, he had a vision of me, and it upset the family. That isn't why he left. No one believed me that night. I've been keeping secrets since that night. It's just hard. I only found out about that the day I found you. I just miss him."
Mateo reached out towards her, but she pulled away. She could already see how he felt, she didn't want to feel it too. He looked at her for a moment and wondered if she got to express herself like she did to him. They both jumped when there was a loud boom of thunder. Mayra turned around to see her Tía Pepa coming through the kitchen. She stared at the two as they pushed their food around. Mayra tapped the space next to her before she pushed the plate over to the open space. Pepa sat down, placing her hand on Mayra's back. Mayra smiled a bit, but she felt Pepa's emotions the instant her fingers touched her back. Pepa gave her niece a worried look as she ate something.
"Why is it all people want from me is my gift? No one in the Encanto wants to be my friend. Everyone wants my help to find out who they are supposed to be in love with. Everyone wants me to help with their emotions, but what about mine? I hate my gift. I wish I didn't have a gift!"
"Hey, don't say that. You seem like a really nice girl. They probably approach you about these things not because of your gifts but because of your personality. I've only had a small conversation with you, but you seem extremely caring. Some of them may not really care about the gift at that point. I didn't when I talked to you. It was nice to just talk to someone. You just give off that energy to me and I'm sure other people notice it too."
When Mayra looked up with a more convincing smile, she noticed sunshine and a rainbow above her Tía's head. There was a small knock on the wall, making the three turn. They saw Julieta and Agustín standing there. Mayra wondered why her Mamá was sleeping. She watched as her Mamá walked over to Mateo to make sure everything was okay with him. Agustín watched Mayra as she smiled at the ground. Ay, Bruno, I know you are the reason she is smiling. I wish Juli could smile like that, but that won't happen until you come home.
"Mija, why don't you go show our guest around? It looks like your Mamá is finished with him. Your Abuela has your Tío Félix, Miguel and I building a home for them here in the Encanto. I think he should know what his new home will look like, don't you?"
Mayra smiled as she nodded. She gestured for Mateo to follow her. The two started to run for the door when Mayra heard someone yell after her.
"Show him everything Mija. He is going to live next to the Rojas Family. Introduce him to his new neighbors. Show him how nice the people of the Encanto can be." She heard a boom of thunder. "Ow, Julieta are you going to let her do that to me?"
Mayra giggled as she tugged on Mateo's shirt. She pointed at the family's candle. She explained that was the candle where her family got their magic. She told him how they had a magic house. He raised an eyebrow, so Mayra asked Casita to help her demonstrate. Three heads popped out when Mayra laughed as she grabbed Mateo when Casita moved the tiles to put them at the door. Agustín smiled as the two ran out towards the village.
"Looks like we have us a future Agustín and Julieta." Pepa joked. She turned to see the look on her sister's face. "What? What did I say?"
"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing Pepa. I'm just happy she looks happy to have a friend finally. That someone doesn't see her as the matchmaker of Encanto. Hopefully Mamá doesn't ruin it for her."
When they got to town the two stopped by the baker's shop. She introduced Mateo to the baker before she asked if they had any of her favorite cookies. After getting a few cookies the two continued on their way. They soon ran into Luisa who had a stack of donkeys in her arms. Mateo was impressed with how many donkeys Luisa could carry. Mayra gave her older sister a sympathetic smile. People never understood what having a gift was like. She was the only one in the family to know how anyone truly felt about their gifts. No one talked about it, but Mayra always felt how pressured or unhappy they were. When Mayra saw her Abuela she turned Mateo. Her Abuela had already made comments about having strangers from outside the Encanto inside Casita. She just didn't want her Abuela to make the comments to his face. It is different when the comments are made to her. They soon made their way to where Mateo's new home was being built. When they got to the area the two saw that the three had started to work on the house already. Mayra looked to see if Miguel or her Tío Félix were somewhere close, but she didn't see them. She walked over to the Rojas home and knocked on the door. She waited a bit before she knocked again. When they didn't answer she turned to Mateo. She gestured for him to follow her. When they reached the Rojas's candy shop Mayra got excited when she saw the family. They made the best candy and Mayra loved when they were at the shop. She grabbed Mateo's arm and pulled him towards the shop. She pushed the door open, making the bell above chime. An elderly couple turned to face the two as they walked in. She then saw two women and a man around her parent's age. The Rojas children. Mayra was waiting for the grandchildren to come running out, but she guessed today they weren't going to.
"Hola Rojas Familia. Papá asked me to introduce you to your new neighbor. This is Mateo Sánchez. Mirabel and I kinda rescued him and his family a few days ago. Then Mamá used her gift. So now I'm here showing him around the Encanto. He's from Bogotá. Like Papá and his family. I haven't determined if he is accident prone like Papá though."
"I'm sure not everyone from Bogotá is accident prone like Agustín. It is nice to meet you Mateo, I'm Señor Rojas the candy maker as Mayra calls me and this is my wife Señora Rojas. These are our three children. Our little Nietos are around here somewhere. I'd ask if you two want candy, but I already know Mayra's answer."
Señor Rojas pulled chocolate out and handed it to the two. Mayra arched an eyebrow as she stared at Mateo. She didn't understand what kid wouldn't jump at the chance to have candy, especially chocolate. She looked down at her own piece of chocolate for a moment before the excited smile she had faded. She shoved her piece of chocolate in his mouth and watched as his expression changed. She smiled at him but turned when she heard a sniff.
"Señora Rojas, are you okay?"
"Sí, it's nothing. Lo prometo. You take some more chocolate and tell your Papá to stop by to see us. We have something we want to talk to him about."
Mayra nodded as she smiled and waved. Mateo followed shortly after. The Rojas family watched as the two continued to walk around. The Rojas children turned to their parents. They could tell by the expression on their faces they were upset. The siblings turned to each other before they turned back to their parents.
"Mamá, it's okay for you guys to admit she reminds you of Agustín. Whenever she smiles like that, I see him in her. What Alma did wasn't right," the Rojas's son said.
"Desmond, we all know why things are the way they are. I don't like it any more than you do. I do see your brother in her. With those glasses and that smile she has. She claims he is accident prone, but she has had some of her own accidents herself. Then I see Julieta in her. Always collecting stuff for her gift. Those little curls she has in those pigtails. The little freckles across her face. She is always so protective of her siblings even though she is the baby of the four. I want them to be different, but they can't be." Señora Rojas responded.
On the outskirts of the town three men began to discuss the newly entered territory. They discussed looking for their target and getting out of this territory. It was on no map. As they continued to walk, they look, and they spotted one of the targets. Mateo. Mateo and Mayra laughed as she explained how people really relied on a ten-year-old for love advice. He then told her to imagine relying on being healed by a ten-year-old. He has a point Mamá had a lot of experience before I was born. The two stopped at the music shop and Mateo sat down at the piano. He started to play, making Mayra think about when her Papá would play. She felt someone staring at them, so she started to look around. She noticed a few people were watching, but this felt like something else. As she continued to look, she saw three men she didn't recognize. She knew instantly they weren't from the Encanto. She knew everyone. She thought back to what Adella had told her. Oh no, how did they get in? The Encanto is supposed to keep threats out. I have to tell Abuela. She grabbed Mateo and started to pull him as quickly as possible. Mateo gave her a confused look until he saw the men. He froze, making Mayra's job a bit harder. When he finally moved, they started to run. The three men started to chase them. Mayra looked back but knew she couldn't lead them back to Casita. She pushed Mateo down a road towards the fields. Mayra turned and thankfully didn't see the men. When she turned around, they were in front of her and Mateo. Before the two could stop and turn in the opposite direction they stopped in front of the men. The man who looked like he was in charge smiled down at the two. Mayra pushed Mateo behind her as the two backed away. The three men laughed at the sight. When the three got closer Mayra pulled her hands up which made the men laugh harder. As one of the men was about to grab Mayra, she sent red sparkling dust at him. The three stared at her before two of them grabbed her. Mateo tried to help but the third man grabbed him. The men told the two to start walking but not to alert anyone. When they got into town the men looked for a place to hide until they got the rest of the family. Mayra smiled at people in town as she would every day. The men started to push the two towards the candy shop. No, please anywhere but here. The Rojas are too sweet to be caught up in this mess. The men told her to go to the shop. Mayra nodded as she made her way to the shop. She opened the door and listened to the bell chime.
"We will be right with you."
"No rush Señora Rojas. I just wanted to stop by and ask you something."
"Mayra? Is everything okay querido?"
"I'm so sorry. Please know I didn't mean to do it."
Señora Rojas gave her a confused look until she looked at the men who were turning the shops sign to closed. Señor Rojas came to see if his wife needed help but stopped when he saw this wasn't his usual costumer. He saw the tears on Mayra's cheeks, and he flashed back to the first time he saw Julieta cry. He was brought back to present time when one of the men shoved Mayra and she fell to the ground. Mayra looked at the back when she heard Desmond and his sisters. The three came out laughing until they saw the scene unfolding in the store. Desmond noticed that Mayra was on the ground. He rushed over to her to try and help her up but one of the men stuck a knife in his face. Desmond put his hands up and up as he backed away. Mateo stared at her before he jumped at the man with the knife and Mayra kicked his legs. The man growled when he hit the ground. Mateo tried to get the weapon away from him but almost got injured in the process. Mayra put her hands up and blew her glowing dust into the man's face. He yelled before he slammed her into the counter. Mateo jumped on his neck and started to pull him back.
"Leave her alone Carlos. She didn't do anything to you."
Carlos pushed Mateo to the ground. He gestured for the two men to grab him. Before Mateo could move the two other men grabbed him. Mayra looked up as Carlos got closer to her. The Rojas family had been frozen in fear the whole time. Señora Rojas didn't understand why Mayra couldn't just sit on the ground. She didn't understand why she had to fight back. Carlos grabbed her and picked her up by her throat. She whimpered as he squeezed and pulled her closer.
"I bet you're regretting your decision to help now, aren't you? Where are they?"
When Mayra refused to answer Carlos screamed and threw her. She slid close to the Rojas family, giving them a chance to check on her. Señora Rojas crouched down to see the blood on the floor. She helped Mayra sit up and saw her face had a few cuts. Carlos told everyone to stand and to go to the back. When they got in the back Carlos made sure there was no way for the group to flee. He told them not to move. The three went to outer part of the store, leaving the group by themselves. Mateo stared at Mayra as she hugged her knees. Señora Rojas reached out towards her, pushing the few strands out of her face. Mayra wiped her tears as she looked at the ground. Señora Rojas reached out towards Mayra again as the young girl stared at her. When the older woman gestured for her to come Mayra slowly crawled over to her. Señor Rojas watched as his wife tried to calm Mayra. Everyone looked up when they heard a knock at the front door. Carlos walked back to the group.
"Who is that?"
"I don't know. Usually when we put the sign up saying we are closed no one comes by. By the sound of that knocking they aren't going away either." Señor Rojas informed him.
Carlos grabbed Señor Rojas and pulled him towards the front of the shop. He told the older man not to try anything as he and the other two men hid behind the counter. Mayra heard the bell chime and waited to see if she could hear who came to the store. She clenched Señora Rojas's apron when she heard her Papá's voice.
"Papá, have you seen Mayra? We asked her to show that boy around a couple hours ago and she hasn't come home yet. Juli and I are really starting to get worried. We both know how she is, I'm just worried that maybe she got hurt."
"Ay, Agustín. Calm down, she is probably just exploring. You and I know Alma has the Madrigal family act under such pressure all the time. They don't get to just be kids. She was here earlier with him, and I gave her some chocolate before she went on her way. Now I'm trying to finish some things so we can close early. Your Mamá and I don't feel well. Before you tell me to go see your wife, we are simply tired. If I see her, I'll send her home."
Señor Rojas started to open the door and gently nudge his son out the door. He shut the door and waited for Carlos to come out. When he did Señor Rojas did as he said. When they got in the back Carlos tossed him to the ground before he turned his back to them and left. When Señor Rojas looked up he saw the hurt look on Mayra's face. She had come to his store for years and she had no clue who he was. Mayra pulled away from Señora Rojas and helped him sit up a bit better. Desmond looked at her and Mateo before he looked at the back of the room. He elbowed one of his sisters and pointed to a shelf they had in the back. The two looked at the entrance to the back before they quickly got up. They picked up the shelf and started to move it as quietly as possible. It soon revealed that a door was hidden. Desmond gestured for the children to hurry. Mateo and Mayra stared at everyone before they made their way for the door. The two were almost out the door when Carlos and his partners came back into the room. Mateo pushed Mayra and the two started to run as fast as they could.
"Get them you idiots!" Carlos shouted as he shoved the two men.
Desmond pushed one of the men and one of his sisters tripped the other. Carlos growled as the two got up and started to chase the young kids. The two men caught up to Mayra and grabbed her. She screamed out as one of them grabbed her. Mateo stopped and turned to see her struggling to get away. He saw the second man running towards him.
"Go! Run! You and Dolores have to get the family! Tell them everything!"
Mayra started to kick and bite which made the second man leave Mateo to come help with her. The two started to drag her back to the shop. When she was shoved back in the shop Carlos started yelling at the other two men about losing Mateo. Mayra looked over at Desmond to see he had been beaten. She started to slowly crawl towards him, but Carlos grabbed the back of her dress. He pulled her back and shoved her against the wall. Mayra tried her hardest not to show fear but by the look on Carlos's face she could tell she wasn't doing very well.
"Where did he go? Where are you hiding them?"
"I don't know where he went. I... I want my Mamá and Papá."
"Oh, little girl, you should have thought about that before you helped that boy. Your Mamá and Papá can't help you now."
Carlos dropped her and laughed as he walked out of the room. Mayra sat on the ground and shook until she looked at Desmond again. She looked in Carlos's direction before she crawled over to him. She slowly reached out but pulled back. She slowly touched his arm, and she was flooded with his emotions. She looked around the room for a washcloth. When she found one, she made it damp and ran back to Desmond. She started to slowly clean up the blood on his face. Desmond thought about how Mayra may have Agustín's eyes, but he could see Julieta's caring nature in them. Mayra wondered how much longer they would be stuck with these three horrible people. Near Casita Dolores and Mateo almost ran into each other as they ran towards the adults. They soon found all the adults in the kitchen. The adults turned to look at the two.
"Papá, it's Carlos. He found us. He's here."
"I thought we would be safe here. This family assured us that nothing that could harm us could get in. Come we need to get your brother and sisters. We have to leave."
"We can't leave yet. Carlos has a family, and he took the Madrigal girl. These people can't get caught in our mess."
Julieta and Agustín looked at each other before they turned to Mateo. Please don't let our worst fears come true. Please let her be okay. Julieta thought to herself.
"Which Madrigal girl?"
"The one I was with all day. I tried to help her, but she told me to run and get help. I'm sorry. They are in the back of the candy shop."
Agustín held Julieta as he stared at Mateo. He wondered if Mayra was in the back when he had come to look for her. He asked Mateo to go gather his three daughters and asked Pepa if they would join him with trying to get Mayra. Mateo and his family agreed they would help. They all soon stood in the town near the candy shop. Alma had lectured Agustín about how she didn't understand why Mayra would be around the Rojas family. Agustín simply ignored her and tried to focus on the matter at hand. He got Félix and the two made their way to the back of the shop. He and Félix stood outside the back door before he stuck his finger up. He started to make a cricket noise and listened for one to return. On the inside of the shop Mayra turned her head towards the back door. She slowly crawled over to the door as she watched the opening to make sure Carlos didn't come back. She saw that the door had been blocked so she couldn't get out again. She put her feet against the wall and her back against the barrier. She started to push as hard as she could until it budged. She looked up to see Desmond using the little strength he had to help her. She opened the door to see her Papá crouched in front of her. She tried not to cry as he put his hand on her face.
"Mayrabug, I'm happy to see you're okay. Come on let's get everyone out of there."
"I can't. We won't be able to get everyone out in time. Take the Rojas sisters and Señor Rojas. Then come back and when it is safe, we will leave."
Agustín wanted to protest but he knew Mayra was in the situation longer than he was. The three followed Agustín to where the Madrigal family was standing outside the shop. Julieta frantically asked about Mayra and Agustín promised her that their daughter was fine. Mayra stared at Desmond and Señora Rojas and hoped that she didn't make a mistake. She soon heard footsteps coming towards the back room. She closed her eyes and prepared for the worst. The footsteps stopped directly in front of her. She soon felt someone's warm breath on her ear. She tensed up in fear.
"Where did the other three go?" When Mayra didn't answer he smacked her. "I'm sick of the games. I want that family."
Mayra sat there silently, too scared to say anything. Carlos grabbed a pot and threw it against the wall. Señora Rojas screamed when Carlos picked Mayra up and threw her. The Madrigal and Rojas families looked at the shop as they heard crashing and screams. Pepa soon started to create a storm as her emotions started to get the best of her. The wind picked up before the rain started. It was soon followed by thunder and lightning. In the shop Mayra laid against the wall hoping Carlos would leave the room, but he started to walk towards her. Desmond pushed himself up and tackled Carlos. The two started to fight until Desmond dropped to the floor. Mayra stared at Desmond as Señora Rojas started to cry. Mayra crawled over and turned him on his back. She gasped when she saw the injury. She was feeling the overwhelming emotions from everyone. Her emotions were soon being pushed aside. She tried not to let the anger to push through, but she felt it from multiple people in the room. She looked down when she felt her legs get wet. She looked at her dress to see that it had Desmond's blood on It. She turned her head slightly as she stood.
"What did you do?"
"He kept getting in my way. Maybe that will persuade you to tell me where the boy went."
Mayra tried to control the anger she felt from the others, but she couldn't seem to. She wondered if some of the anger was her own. She clenched her jaw and turned to face them as she threw pots on the floor. Señora Rojas gasped as she stared at Mayra. The two men that were with Carlos started to take a few steps back as Mayra took a step towards them. They soon started to run towards the front of the store. Mayra could hear the crashing of the two fleeing at the front of the shop. Señora Rojas quickly ran to her son as he groaned in pain. Carlos chased after the two men while Mayra followed the three. She was done being scared of the three. The two men had sprinted out of the shop. They started to make their way in the direction that they had entered the two. Carlos stepped out of the shop, making Mateo's father grab his shoulder.
"Get back here you two! Running from a child, cowards!"
Carlos tried to turn around but was knocked to the ground. He crawled back so he could get up. When Mayra stepped out of the store the wind picked up her sparkle dust she would leave behind. Julieta took notice to blood on Mayra's dress. She pointed it out to her husband before she tried to sneak into the store unnoticed. She paused when she glanced at Mayra and saw her eyes. They were glowing just like in Bruno's vision. She knew that's why those men ran. A girl with one eye that glowed blue and the other that glowed red was enough to scare anyone. The sky grew darker as Pepa saw Mayra. Carlos tripped as he started to back up. He soon backed himself into a building and fell. A flash of lightning went as Mayra got closer to him. He pulled his knife out but the thunder made him drop it. She slammed her hand against the building, making sparkling dust go everywhere. She leaned closer to Carlos until she was right next to his ear.
"Leave the Encanto and never come back. Don't ever come looking for Mateo or his family again. If you come back, there will be more than sparkling dust waiting for you. Now go." When Carlos didn't move Mayra slammed her hands against the wall again. "I said leave!"
Carlos got up and started to run after the two other men. She stood there and stared as the emotions stayed. She looked up when she heard Señor Rojas call for his wife and son. She saw the two walk out of the shop. She watched Desmond walk as if he was never hurt. The fear started to sneak back in as she thought about what happened. Julieta and Agustín started to rush towards her but slowed when they saw her shaking. They saw she was fixated on the shop and her breathing wasn't the same. They slowly made their way towards her in caution. When they were a couple feet from her Agustín stuck his hands up a bit as Julieta stuck her hands out.
"Mayra, Mija, come here. Let's get you home and into a different outfit. Maybe your Mamá could make you your favorite snack. Mayra?" Agustín took the last few steps and touched her arm. "Hey, it's going to be okay. Look at me, everyone is safe."
Mayra stared at the shop before she blinked and turned her head to her Papá. She didn't say anything as she looked down at her dress. She turned towards him and threw herself towards him. She started to cry as she pushed her face against him. He wrapped his arms around her, slowly rubbing her back. Julieta ran over to her, wrapping her arms around the young girl. Mayra turned and wrapped her arms around her Mamá. Julieta tried to pull back for a moment, but Mayra tightened her grip.
"Please don't leave me. I... I don't think I can move, but I don't want to be alone."
"Here take my hand. I promise I won't leave you."
Mayra grabbed her Mamá's hand and the two started to walk towards Casita. Agustín looked over at the Rojas family before he followed the two. When they arrived at Casita, Mayra stood there. She soon started to walk towards the stairs. Agustín and Julieta watched her with concern as she slowly made her way up the stairs. She soon entered her room and closed the door. She had a quick flash back to the shop before she was in her room again. She walked over to mirror to see her dress was a complete mess. She stood there and lost track of time until there was knock on the door. She watched her Mamá walk in, but she didn't know what to say or do. She jumped when she felt a hand by her face. Julieta pulled back, trying not to scare her. Agustín knocked on the door before he popped his head in the room. He gave the two a concerned look when he saw Julieta standing near Mayra. He shut the door and walked closer to the two but stopped when Mayra spoke.
"Why didn't you ever tell us? Why did you tell us that they were around the Encanto? Why didn't you tell us it was them?"
Julieta and Agustín stare at her for a moment before they look at each other. They already knew what she was talking about. She had asked them a million times about the topic, and they always tried to change it as quickly as possible. It was a complicated situation that no one was to talk about.
"Mayra, it's complicated and I wi-" Agustín was cut off by Mayra.
"Too complicated to tell your daughters the truth? I talk to them all the time. I stop by the shop at least twice a week. I had to find out when I was trapped in the back of a store with them. When you came looking for me. I had to find out when my life was in danger."
"Mayra, please"
"You've lied to me my whole life. How can I trust you?"
She looked directly at her Papá, the one person she trusted to keep her secrets for years. He could tell that he hurt her, and she could see something different in his eyes. Without another word he turned and left. Julieta sighed and followed him. She knew when Mayra was ready, she would come to them. When she got downstairs, she found that everyone was home, and it was not something she wanted to walk into already.
"You brought danger to our Encanto. To our Family. She is a child and has never experienced danger like that before. She could have died. Why were those men even here?"
"Señora Alma, I promise we didn't mean for anyone here to get hurt. We thought we were safe once we were told that this place kept danger out. I needed money, badly when we lived in Bogotá. He offered to help us, but I didn't need that kind of help. When I declined, he thought I'd go to the police."
"This is all over money? Your son left mi Nieta pequeña with those men who wanted you for money?"
"Alma, enough! This arguing isn't going to help Mayra. We all have to stay calm and remember she came home safely. Be grateful she came home safely." Agustín adjusted his glasses. "Just stop fighting."
"Where is she anyway?"
"She won't come out of her room, Mamá. In fact, she won't even get out of the dress. She is just standing there. I think she needs some time to process."
"Let me try. I actually told her why we were running. I told her our names. I even told her our old last name. I never told anyone that before. She listened to everything and didn't judge. Maybe I can help her like she helped me. I can't promise anything, but it is something. Señora Julieta, please."
Julieta thought about what Adella said for a moment before she nodded. Adella smiled as she sprinted up the stairs. She knocked on the door and entered to see Mayra was still in the dress. She walked in front of the younger girl and smiled. Mayra turned her head, but Adella moved back into her view.
"Hey, how about we talk about what happened and get you out of that dress?"
"I don't really feel like talking about it."
"Then how about you listen to me talk."
Adella went over to Mayra's drawers and grabbed something new for her to wear. She slowly helped her out of the dress and placed it in the laundry basket. Mayra was soon in a different dress and sitting in front of the mirror. Adella grabbed Mayra's brush and started to slowly brush her hair. Mayra turned her head a bit, waiting for Adella to finally talk.
"Mayra, I know the type of man Carlos is and the type of men he associates with. You don't have to say it, but I know what you went through had to be a lot. Your parents care about you. You should see how worried they are now. How worried they were when my brother told them you were taken. You are perfect to them. Don't let whatever happened in that shop change that. Don't let him change you like he changed us. You care about people more than most people do. Don't let him take that."
"Adella, can I just be alone right now?"
Adella smiled at Mayra in the mirror and knew she did everything she could. She looked at Mayra one more time before she left. Mayra sat against the wall placing her head against it. She started to cry as she continued to think about what happened in the shop. She soon laid against the wall, watching the door. Julieta walked in with food and placed it next to her, but Mayra still stared at the door. Julieta tried to push Mayra's hair out of her face but stopped when Mayra flinched. Julieta tried to give Mayra the plate again, but she only stared at the door. Julieta blinked back the tears before she rushed out of the room.
"Amor? Hey, talk to me. What's wrong?"
Julieta simply smiled at him and went to their room. Agustín opened Mayra's door to see her staring as if he wasn't there. He always thought his daughters would be safe in the Encanto. That because he raised them in the Encanto nothing like this would happen to them. He watched as she slowly clenched her hand into a fist.
"Papá, am... am I a monster?"
(Author's Note: So here is the long-awaited update. I apologize for the delay. I hope you all agree that this chapter was worth the wait. I promise this does all go somewhere. You'll learn more about Agustín's past. You'll learn more about why things are the way they are in the family. There is so much for everyone to look forward to in these coming chapters. I'd like to thank everyone for the amazing support. I appreciate it. I'd also like to make a note that if anyone that speaks Spanish notices a mistake, please don't hesitate to let me know. Spanish is not a language I am not every good with. I want to properly use the words so if I make a mistake, please let me know. Thanks for your continued support. Have a wonderful day and keep looking for the next update.)
