Skitty here! It's the next chapter~ Yeah you guys are lucky, because my friend was like "Cala, ya need to update." And here we are!
Bruno sidestepped as Luisa ran past. His attention darted to Isabela, as she waved her hand and roses grew up the wall. Next to her, Pepa was talking animatedly, waving her hands, and gesturing wildly. Isabela laughed, and nodded. She said something Bruno couldn't hear, and he subconsciously moved closer.
"-And he said that my rain storms are his favorite weather!" Pepa squealed, clasping her hands.
Bruno assumed that they were talking about Felìx, whom Pepa had liked since they were all four and playing tag with all the other kids. Bruno felt bad for her, for Abuela had recently decided that Julieta would be betrothed to him- Not Pepa.
"That's wonderful, dear." Isabela answered, moving away to wind vines around the staircase. "I think Tia Luisa wants you to use your wind to help her out, okay?"
"Okay!" Pepa chirped. She pressed a kiss to her mother's cheek, and skipped up the stairs to find their Tia.
Bruni stepped out from behind the pillar he was behind. "Hello, Mamà."
Isabela jumped, startled. "Oh! Bruno! I was wondering where you were."
Bruno fidgeted. "Oh, I've been around." He said quietly.
"Well, now that you're here, could you find Dolores? Nobody can find her, and Luisa is going crazy."
Bruno stifled a laugh. "Sure thing, Mamà." With a sigh, he turned towards his room, bounding up the staircase, skipping two steps at a time. His door glowed faintly, and he pushed it open, the sound of the sand soothing his frazzled nerves.
Bruno slid down into the cavern of his room, crossing the premises and taking a seat next to one of the smaller caves dotting his room.
"Everyone's looking for you." He noted in a singsong voice. Bruno pulled a box out of his ruana, and straightened the bow. He set it in front of the cave entrance, and leaned back. "If you don't take it, I'll have to~". He teased.
Little hands reached out and snatched the gift, pulling it into the darkness. Bruno chuckled and rolled over onto his stomach, meeting eyes with Dolores. "What's up?"
"I'm scared." Dolores said softly, her voice muffled.
Bruno furrowed his brow. "Why?"
"Of my gift. I don't want a bad one." She replied, clutching the box to her chest.
Bruno smiled. "You are going to get the best gift ever. And even if it's scary, I'll be with you every step. Now. Open your gift."
Dolores tired into the box, lifting the lid and pulling out a lute.
"I know you love music, so when you are in your cool new room, you can play to your heart's content and no one can tell you to stop." Bruno said, smiling brightly.
Dolores set the instrument down and lunged for a hug. "Thank you, Primo."
Bruno squeezed her gently. "Of course. Now let's get you to your door."
Dolores giggled and picked up her lute and skipping towards the door. "Come on, Bruno!"
Bruno laughed and took her hand, pulling her out the door and into the hallway. He led her down the stairs and through the crowd. With a squeal, she slipped out of Bruno's grasp and ran to Luisa.
"Mama! Look what Bruno got me!" Dolores proudly showed her lute to Luisa. "He said that when I get my room I can play however much I want and no one can tell me to stop!"
"Did he really?" Luisa asked, amused, tossing a playful glare to Bruno.
He gave a shrug and small smile."Just stating the facts, Tia."
Luisa shook her head and chuckled with a fond smile. She gave a kiss to Dolores and headed towards the crowd. "We'll be waiting at your door."
Dolores took a deep breath. "Will you go with me?" She asked, turning to Bruno as the tiles turned and the curtains flung open.
Bruno's eyes widened. "I don't think that's a good idea." He whispered.
Dolores' face fell. "Please?"
Bruno bit his lip and forced a smile. "Okay." He composed himself, stepping forward and taking her hand.
Silence fell and Bruno could hear the quiet whispers.
"What's he doing?"
"He'll ruin it."
"Bad luck Bruno will probably strike again."
Bruno pretended to ignore them as he led Dolores down the aisle and up the stairs.
As Dolores placed her hands on the candle, Bruno felt memories of his ceremony coming back.
"Open your door!" Alma smiled encouragingly at Bruno. He packed his hand on the door knob, eyes blowing wide as it became solidified with a burst of light. He was standing with hourglasses in his hand, his face solemn, or maybe sad.
Green flashed before Bruno's eyes and he clutched his head his first vision came to him. It was Senora Mayèz laying on the ground, still.
He gasped, falling to the ground. "Bruno!" Isabela cried, collapsing and burying him in a hug, as more terrible things flashed before his eyes faster and faster and faster-
"Bruno."
Bruno's eyes met hers. "Tia?" He croaked. "Where are we?" It was a black abyss, the only color surrounding Mirabel.
"Be careful." She whispered, her shape flickering and fading.
"Wait, don't go-"
"Bruno!"
Bruno's attention snapped to his mother. "They were all dead." He said, tears falling from his eyes. "All of them."
"Who?" Isabela shook Bruno gently. "Who, Mi hijo?"
Bruno blinked. "All of them."
He glanced at Alma. Her face was horrified. "Bruno."
"Whoo, Dolores!" Dolores' dad, Thomas, cried.
Bruno adjusted to the light. In front of him, Dolores' Door stood proudly, a picture of her older with her hands to her ears. Her face was contorted, and it looked pained. It was eerily similar to how she looked now. Her hands covered her ears.
"I hear everything." She whispered. "And it's so loud."
It was strange. Bruno had never heard Dolores talk so quietly. It was like she was being drowned out.
Alma clasped her hands. "It is a great night. A perfect night! Everyone, come, let us take a picture."
His family surged forward, and Bruno stepped into view of the camera, shoved back so you could only barely see his mop of curly black hair. "Wait, you can't see me!" Bruno tried to push forward, but he was shoved back and landed on his backside. The telltale flash of the camera went off, and time seemed to slow around Bruno.
His vision stuttered, and he was back in his mother's arms, crying on the floor.
Then he was back, the sight of his family perfectly poised and happy- Without him.
Back and forth, back and forth. Bruno gasped, drawing in a breath wracking his chest with coughs.
He stared up at his family. "Don't be upset, or mad at all. Don't feel regret, or sad at all. Hey, I'm still a part of the Family Madrigal, and I'm fine, I am totally fine. I'll stand on the side as you shine." Bruno choked up. "I'm not fine, I'm not fine!"
He walked slowly around his family, before turning away and walking out of the room. "I can't move the mountains. I can't make the flowers bloom. I can't take another night up in my room, waiting for a miracle." Bruno stepped down the stairs, children carrying sparklers rushing past him, his hair ruffling slightly at the movement.
"I can't heal what's broken. Can't control the morning rain or a hurricane. Can't keep down the unspoken pain. Always waiting for a miracle, a miracle." Bruno sighed, opening the door to the Casita, closing his eyes and tilting his face to look at the stars. " Always walking alone, always wanting for more. Like I'm still at that door. Longing to shine like all of you shine. All I need is a change. All I need is a chance. All I know is I can't stay on the side, open your eyes, open your eyes, open your eyes!" Bruno pleaded, staring across the crowded room at Alma.
"I would move the mountains. Make new trees and flowers bloom. Someone please, just let me know where do I go, waiting for a miracle. I would heal it's broken. Show this family something new. Who I am inside, so what can I do, sick of waiting on a miracle. So here I go! I am ready! Come on, I am ready. "
I've been patient, steadfast and steady. Bless me now as you blessed us all those years ago, when you gave us a miracle!" Bruno sighed, sinking to the floor defeatedly. "Am I too late for a miracle?"
Bruno pursed his lips, tears pricking at the corner of his eyes. A rattling noise caused him to look up. Casita was shaking, the tiles clattering softly. "Casita?" Bruno held his hand out, retracting it as a tile fell. "What on earth?" Bruno furrowed his brow, reaching out to pick the tile up. With a wince, it slipped from his hand, creating a jagged cut. "Ouch." He yelped, glancing worriedly at the tile. "This might be a problem."
Okay! Well, for those who are wondering, I didn't change the lyrics because it already fits Bruno's problem. He wishes a miracle would come and give him a new gift, simple as that.
Bug out!
