-The previous night. -
The clouds were laying heavily across the Encanto. Preventing even the light of the moon to land on the ground leaving the Encanto in complete darkness this night.
It made it easy for the ragged figure to make its way through the terrain, even if the figure was very slow, almost staggering forward.
It was a man… Thin… Worn out. One hand holding his right arm that was hanging limply at his side while his left foot was being dragged over the ground revealing his limp.
The tears stung in Bruno's eyes… He had failed. He had tried to make it over the mountains but he had never even reached the top.
First, he had run out of food, but he could make due on fruits, roots, and the small amounts of water he could find.
Then his foot had gotten injured. But he didn't think it was worse than a sprain. He had been determined to make it.
But now that his arm had been crushed by the loose rocks, clearly broken… And then he had fallen. And weeks of progress had become nothing as he landed back at the foot of the mountain now in more pain than he could ever remember being… And he just wanted to cry.
There was no way he was going to make it up to his previous point in this state, he was too hurt and had no food.
And in spite of everything… Bruno didn't want to die. Perhaps he just didn't have the courage to end it or go through with it.
No matter the case. Bruno was now coming crawling back and the tears of shame and failure stung in his eyes.
Slowly the silhouette of Casita appeared in the horizon and Bruno dragged himself towards the house.
The moment Bruno stepped through the gate the house started to vibrate, almost as if anxious.
"Hola," Bruno whispered. "Yeah… It's me."
The moment he said it the doors just swung right open urging Bruno to step inside.
Bruno looked up. Then swallowed as he dragged himself up the front steps and finally made his way in. Only for the pain to ripple through his body.
Food… He needed food. Bruno stumbled towards the kitchen. Even before he was inside Casita had opened up a cupboard and threw a basket of tamales on the table closest to Bruno.
The moment Bruno saw them he suddenly remembered it had been a long time since he had gotten any actual food and the hunger just overtook him as he staggered towards the basket and picked up a tamale with his good hand only to devour it, as if afraid that it would vanish.
The moment he did he felt the familiar tingle in his arm and foot, as well as other places on his body. Bruno didn't stop though he took a second one, this one he broke in two. Giving one half to his rat that hadn't left him for all of this, and stuffing the rest into his own mouth. Chewing and swallowing harshly.
Then Bruno stumbled towards the kitchen and picked up a glass to pour himself a glass of water and Bruno emptied the glass. He emptied out a second glass as well, and then just abandoned the glass entirely to drink directly from the tap.
Finally, after Bruno had managed to drench his own face and many of his curls did he fall back, his thirst finally satisfied.
Then Bruno fell down on a chair. Groaning deeply as his entire body seemed to be aching, even after the food.
"As it turns out," Bruno whispered. "Those mountains… They are tall. Like… Really tall." he gasped. "There has to be another way though." he groaned. "Maybe if I had gone for the gate. There has to be a way to sneak through right?"
Suddenly Casita squeaked, sounding very displeased.
"No, I would be caught. Maybe if I headed west instead of east?" Bruno commented. "I need more supplies this time…" then he looked at the basket next to him and realized there was only half a tamale left…
This time there was no party that hadn't managed to flourish. There was always extra food in the cupboards in case someone needed it… But not a lot. Julieta liked everything to be fresh. So she usually made exactly what the family needed and not a lot more. She had become really good at determining how much they were going to need too.
Then suddenly Bruno's chair moved and he yelped in surprise. "Woah… Casita."
The tiles moved, out towards the entrance.
"What are you on about Casita?" Bruno asked only for the table to push him. "All right. All right. I'm up." he assured as he stood up. "Now what is it?"
The tiles made an arrow. Very obvious to see.
"Fine." Bruno groaned and followed the arrow only to be let out to the entrance and… all the glowing doors. He swallowed as casita lead him up the stairs, just hoping he wouldn't run into a family member up here. Only for Bruno to land right in front of the portrait covering the entrance to the walls.
Bruno blinked. But opened up the portrait and was faced with the hole, easily big enough for himself, and then Bruno crawled inside, quickly followed by his rat that followed by his feet.
He inhaled a deep breath and then Bruno moved forward, further and further in. He pretty much knew where he was going. Towards the patch with the cracks.
However, the moment Bruno arrived he stopped. His eyes widened and his mouth gaped. "Madre Dios," he whispered.
Because in front of Bruno were the cracks… Covering the entire wall. Going up and up and up, and they were on the floor too.
It had taken years for the cracks to evolve from the little spot at his feet to a patch roughly the size of Bruno's body.
Somehow though… In the time since Bruno had left. This was now an entire wall. And Bruno stumbled backward as he looked up. A horror going into his mind… His prophecy. Mirabel in front of all of the cracks. Coming from her. Or at least that's what it looked like and what people would assume.
"Oh no! No-no-no-no!" Bruno exclaimed as he stumbled forward. "I can fix this! I can fix you up! No one has to know!" he exclaimed. "I fix this and Mirabel will be fine right? Don't crack further okay! I'll fix it! I can fix it!" he exclaimed as he ran to his bag of spackle powder only quickly to realize.
Yeah, he was going to need more spackle than that… A lot more spackle.
Then suddenly Bruno felt a dizzy spell hit him and he tumbled around. "Sorry Casita." he groaned. "I can fix this though… I can fix it." he stumbled to the bucket only to trip.
Black spots were playing in front of Bruno's eyes and he shook his head. "No… Gotta fix," he muttered.
Casita rumbled, clearly unhappy. Then suddenly something opened behind Bruno. A little alcove… protected.
Bruno turned his head and he swallowed. "Lay down for a minute?" he asked.
The floor made a little hum in agreement.
"Well… Just for a minute then." Bruno whispered as he crawled towards the little spot. "Just a minute… That's all," he mumbled as he laid down. Though the moment Bruno's eyes closed. He was long gone into sleep already.
Bruno woke, to small streams of soft light falling on his face. Bleary eyed did Bruno lift his face trying to figure out where he was and what was going on.
Then Bruno lifted his head to see the big wall just filled with cracks and his eyes widened. "Oh…" the light had come from the other side of the cracks, the boards, only small streams but enough to illuminate the room so Bruno could see the dust particles fly around and then… Bruno head it. Voices… Footsteps.
They were muffled, too hard to distinguish but still, Bruno stiffened. Slowly he crawled towards a wall where the sounds were highest and pressed his ear against the wall.
"Honestly that Camilo. He seems to be everywhere and nowhere. At the same time! How does he do that!"
Bruno's eyes widened… Pepa… And then another female voice.
"I'm sure he'll show up when it's time for dinner."
Now Bruno's eyes watered… Julieta… They were right there. On the other side of this wall. And Bruno's heart tied itself together as he managed to keep his sob back.
Part of him wanted so badly to just jump right out of the wall, right here and now, and hug them… But then he would have to explain himself… About all of this. He couldn't.
Then slowly the people left, their footsteps getting further away and they were gone.
"Well." Bruno sighed as he looked up. "Looks like I am stuck here until nightfall. Might as well get some work done," he commented as he headed towards his bag of spackle and started to mix so he could start patching the cracks.
As Bruno had assumed, yeah this was hardly enough… It was far from enough and only to soon Bruno was all out.
And he sighed deeply as he sat down, leaning his back against the wall contemplating on how to get more spackle… Right now the only option seemed to… Steal.
Well, whatever! Julieta had been giving free healing food to the entire Encanto for decades! Surely they could give some spackle for her house in return. That only seemed fair.
"Urggh." Bruno covered his face. "Casita… Do you know why these cracks are happening?"
Suddenly the house jumped.
"Wait…. You do?" Bruno asked.
The house seemed to nod.
"Okay… So erh… How do I stop them?" Bruno asked.
That seemed to be either a right or a wrong thing to say. The house seemed beyond excited and suddenly Bruno was just being transported right back towards the portrait. "Woah. Woah. WOAH!" suddenly Bruno grabbed a pipe and held on. "Stop it! Casita stop!"
But the house kept insisting trying to push him.
"No! I don't want to go out there!" Bruno cried.
The wall rumbled annoyed and gave him a push again.
"NO!" Bruno shouted. "No I won't!" he cried. Tears fell from his face. "I did everything I could! I tried… I really did. But I can't do this anymore!" he cried.
The house rumbled. Still trying to nudge him loose.
"Casita!" Bruno exclaimed. "If you make me go out there I'll leave! And this time I won't come back. Even if I break all my limps!"
And finally… Finally, that seemed to make Casita settle back and it all stopped. And Bruno sighed deeply as he let go of the pipe now finally collapsing on the ground and he groaned.
What had his life come to?
That night. Long after everyone had gone to sleep. Bruno snuck out of the house and went to the local building story.
The Encanto was a place where everyone knew each other and the trust was high, so there were no alarms at all and sneaking in through the window was easy.
Bruno though made sure to only take a little so no one would notice the missing spackle unless they took stock.
Sadly it wouldn't be enough… Bruno just had to find another source the next time he went out there. At least he had to fix those cracks!
As Bruno got back he deposited the bag at the wall and headed towards the alcove to get some sleep, but dismayed found it was gone.
That though was when casita opened another path and Bruno blinked as slowly he followed the pathway, wondering where he was going until at last he saw… A room. An entire room.
And it felt warm and dry. "Is this for me?" Bruno asked.
Casita rumbled in response.
Bruno smiled a little thankful and a little sadly. "Thank you. It's really nice," he said as he looked around to find a corner where he could sleep.
Again the next morning Bruno woke to the small streams of light… And voices.
It made Bruno sit up as he thought he could hear… Chatter. By multiple people and at the other wall there was a little crack. Bigger than the others as if it was deliberate. Letting in the light.
Bruno held his breath as slowly he stood up and then slowly moved towards the crack that seemed to be in eye height. And then he squinted his eyes as he looked through only to gasp in shock.
He had an exact view of the dining room table! And everyone was now busying seating themselves while chatting.
Everyone was there… Every single one.
Bruno's eyes watered as he saw them. There was Isabela. She was laughing while showing Dolores her flower.
Felix was happily chattering with Agustin. Probably planning a performance at the tavern.
Bruno tiptoed as if he tried to get closer.
And there was Luisa! She was lifting Mirabel with one hand. Mirabel was giggling amused while her green glasses threatened to slide off.
Oh and Camilo that rascal couldn't wait and had sneakily stolen an Arepa from the table, now trying to hide that he was chewing.
Then finally everyone settled and Alma came in as well. She sat down with her back towards Bruno and now Bruno could see… All of them. sitting around the table. With each their plate. On each their chair and he swallowed... He couldn't help but take a glance around to see if they had left an additional plate out... They had not. And Bruno's heart sank.
Then Alma asked them to do prayer and Bruno stepped back so he could fold his own hands and close his eyes. Listening to Alma's prayer with the others and he swallowed as a tear fell down his face while he whispered. "Thanks." with all the rest.
Why was this so hard? … It was just this thin wall separating them and yet it felt like a mountain.
And then… the family started to eat. And Bruno swallowed as he held a hand over his own rumbling stomach… Probably should have thought about getting some food too while he was in town.
Then Bruno looked up again and looked through the crack at his family, all eating, smiling… even laughing.
They were happy.
It stung in Bruno's eyes and his throat constricted. See. They were happy without him. They didn't need him.
And thus Bruno tore himself away and stumbled as far away as he could so no one could hear him before he fell down and started to sob like a little baby.
This was good! This is what it was supposed to be! It was a good thing he wasn't needed.
It just… It hurt so bad.
And Casita seemed to sigh in deep resignation. Bruno though merely curled himself up, cursing himself for being so weak yet again. But still couldn't stop his sobbing... Well. It was a good thing that no one in the family had to see this. How pathetic he actually was.
